India halts topfruit imports from China after pesticides found
This is the first instance of Indian authorities banning farm products from China. Apples and pears account for almost 90% of the fruit and vegetables India imports from its neighbour.
“We repeatedly found quarantine pests in apples, pears and tagetes (marigold flower) seeds coming from China. Hence, we have temporarily suspended their imports,” said an official aware of the matter.
The move comes as India has made a point of staying away from China’s ostentatious promotion of its One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative and relations between the two countries have been going through a prickly time, mainly due to differences centered around border disputes.
In the 11 months to February, India imported apples and pears worth $132 million from China, up 200% from the corresponding period a year ago.
source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
