A proposal by the European Commission to lift the ban on import of mangoes from India was approved by the member states at the Regulatory Committee concerned with Plant Health. With the lifting of the ban, India can now export mangoes to the European Union.
The import of number of vegetables and fruits had earlier been banned by the commission in April 2014 after a large number of consignments had been intercepted at arrival in the EU infested with pests not known to occur in Europe.
Thereafter, India provided assurances that appropriate measures have been taken to ensure that the exported mangoes are pest-free. According to reports, an audit carried out by the Commission's Food and Veterinary Office in India in September 2014 also showed significant improvements in the phytosanitary export certification system.
The measures will allow the import of mango fruits before the start of the next import season in March 2015.
At a later stage, when more evidence is collected regarding the Indian phytosanitary certification, the ban on other vegetables and fruits will also be reviewed.