No threat of pests entering India with American Apples

New Delhi, Oct 19 (UNI) The government today clarified that there is no threat of pests entering the country with apples imported from the United States.

The Government has clarified that there is no threat of pests entering the country with the fruit being imported from the USA and that procedures in consonance with the international convention are being followed before permitting import of apples into India.

'There are no reports of interception of any quarantine pests from the imported apple consignments from USA nor any non-compliance of Indian plant quarantine regulations,' the Ministry today clarified.

This is in response to media reports stating that apples being imported from the USA are not being quarantined properly and are thus carrying pests to India.

As per the procedure for quarantine of plant material entering India, the exporting country has to provide necessary phyto-sanitary certificate and the exporter has to meet certain conditions to ensure that no infestation enters India. Once at Indian ports of arrival, the consignments are inspected and approval is granted only after the consignment has passed through an established procedure.

Import of apples is regulated under Destructive Insects and Pests Act, 1914 and Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 and its amendments. In consonance with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) is undertaken before permitting the import of the commodity into India as per the said Order. The Pest Risk Analysis is a continuous process and is product specific and country specific, which ensures protection from introduction of exotic pests and diseases. PRA ensures identification of pest/diseases that are quarantined in India and likely to be associated with the pathway of import. In case of apple import, the pest and disease that are likely to be carried by the fruit will alone be quarantine concern to us. If any pest/disease, even if affecting the apple gardens or other parts of the plant, if it does not affect the fruit, then such pest/disease may not be having chance of entry into India through import of apples.

UNI