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Pests in foreign fruits spell danger

Sunanda Sanganeria

The country is under threat from pests in foreign fruits which are flooding the market. The government needs to put in place a risk-analysis study before allowing free imports. Imported apples from China contained pests not found in India and would contaminate the domestic fruit, experts said.

Agriculture experts added that India lacked the required quarantine measures and testing facilities. Therefore, while many countries have banned imports of Indian fruits on quarantine grounds, their products come unchecked into the country.

Speaking to Business Standard, a government official said: "The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority has submitted a risk-analysis study to the department of agriculture which states that apples from China contain pests that are not found in India and can harm Indian apples."

However, no action has been taken since the submission of the report a month ago. "The agriculture ministry is sitting pretty despite clear evidence that these imported varieties of apples from China are harming the Indian varieties," sources said.

Himachal Pradesh, one of the largest producers of apples in India, has asked the agriculture and commerce ministries to increase the import duty to protect the indigenous crop. "Until proper information is in place, how do we know if the fruits are exported at a lower price to India than their home market," said an expert.

Indian imports of US apples rose from around $500,000 in the year 2000 to nearly $5 million last year. Taking advantage of India lifting restrictions on more food articles last year and reducing tariffs on imports, China and Australia have been sending apples in large quantities. Imports from the two countries are more than from the US.

China, along with Japan and Australia, has banned mangoes from India because of the presence fruit flies. Mango exports to the US have also been banned because the Americans want irradiation of the fruit before export.

The sources added that India had already furnished these countries with all relevant risk-analysis information and the country's missions were taking up the cause with the respective countries.

Agriculture expert Vijay Sardana said: "It is for the Centre to monitor imports, which requires setting parameters and quarantine measures. However, these have not been developed in India, leading to very poor or no checking at ports, the entry points."

Despite the Centre issuing proper packaging norms for importers last year, little has been done. Customs authorities are still unaware of labelling and other regulations.

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