To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps her Department has taken to help UK businesses adversely affected by the ban on the import of mangoes from India.
Answered on
13 October 2014
Since the ban was introduced, Defra officials and Lord de Mauley have had several discussions with UK trade representatives about the implications of the ban. The most recent meeting was on 22 July, when Lord de Mauley met with representatives of the National Asian Business Association, the Fresh Produce Consortium and other trade representatives together with the Indian High Commission. This focused on the importance of India demonstrating improvements in its phytosanitary export system to the European Union’s Food and Veterinary Office audit in September and what assistance could be provided to the Indian authorities.
The need for direct assistance to UK businesses has not been raised. However, the UK Government is making efforts to facilitate the resumption of trading in this highly valued product. For example, an Inspector from our Food and Environment Research Agency went to Mumbai to deliver a three day training event between 19 and 21 August. The training was aimed at exporters and government inspectors and was attended by nearly 200 delegates.