The European Union’s Food and Veterinary Office has sent three officials to India, prompting hope amongst local mango exporters that the European market could soon reopen to their offering.
The inspectors will this week visit the perishable cargo complex at Mumbai’s airport, the packhouses of two private traders in Vashi and a facility being set up by the Maharashtra government, according to the Economic Times.
The visit was arranged at the request of the Indian government, followingthe European Commission’s (EC) decision to ban Indian mangoes and four other vegetables in March this year.The ban was imposed until December 2015, however Indian exporters now hope trade will be cleared to resume in the near future.
“It is pleasing to see an EU delegation visiting India as early as September,” Girish Sarda of Mumbai-based exporter Seven Star Fruits told Asiafruit. “While this shows the EU is open to the idea of resuming the trade we are yet to receive approval so it is still a waiting game.”