Entry of non-fumigated crop cargoes extended for another 6 months by Indian government

The Dollar Business Bureau

The Indian government has extended the entry of non-fumigated crop cargoes by another 6 months. The chemical methyl bromide (MBR), banned in most parts of the world, is used to fumigate crop cargoes as a pesticide.

The Indian plant quarantine authority had earlier issued a stern warning that it would accept the entry of fumigated crop cargoes only if they have been treated with methyl bromide at the country of origin only after June 30. Today it has issued another notification extending the entry of crop cargoes that have not been fumigated, for another 6 months. Earlier the government had threatened to disrupt supplies of pulses from Canada, wheat from the Black Sea region and Europe if they did not meet the Indian Plant Quarantine's requirements.

Earlier on January 30 the Indian plant quarantine officials had called for a meeting with agricultural counsellors and trade commissioners from 20 exporting countries and had categorically stated that they would not be allowing the entry of pulses that have not been treated with methyl bromide requiring the Indian authorities to treat them with the pesticide at Indian ports. The officials insisted that there would be no extension after March 31.

Extensive use of methyl bromide leads to a depletion in the ozone layer which India wants to avoid at all costs. India has also asked for safer alternatives to MBR, from the exporting countries. The government was confident that domestic pulses production in India would breach the 2016-17 target of 20.7MT which would help in reducing the imports of pulses.

There is yet to be an official release as to why the entry of non-fumigated crops has been extended to another 6 months ie till Jan 2018.