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Our Bureau

After 20 years of haggle

Chennai , June 23

Japan on Friday formally lifted its 20-year-old ban on import of Indian mangoes. The move now provides market access to the Indian fruit after a gap of two decades.

An official statement said the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries had formally communicated the decision to the Union Government.

"Japan has formally lifted the ban on import of Indian mangoes in Japan on June 23, 2006 on the basis of the request by the Indian side, after confirming that there is no risk of infiltration of diseases and pests through previous scientific and technical examinations; and also getting acceptance through procedures like public hearing, public comment etc," the Ministry said in its communication.

The ban has been lifted on the heels of the Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Kamal Nath's visit to Japan last week. Mr Nath had raised the issue there with the Japanese authorities during his visit.

Satisfied with safety

A Japanese technical team, which visited India earlier this year, had satisfied itself with the safety aspects of Indian mangoes. The varieties that can now be imported by Japan are: Alphonso, Banganapalli, Kesar, Langra, Chausa and Malika. These are grown in pre-identified areas of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, according to the communication from Japan. Japan had banned Indian mangoes in 1986 on suspected pest infestation by fruit flies.

Since then, the Centre had been trying hard to have the ban lifted. The Indian Agricultural Research Institute and other research bodies worked on eliminating the risk of fruit flies and came up with vapour heat treatment. This treatment was found to be effective way back in 1998 and the Japanese authorities too approved of it. But subsequently, Japan raised the issue of a new fruit fly.

More Stories on : Foreign Trade | Horticulture/Fruits & Vegetables | Agricultural Policy

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