Agri ministry brings cheer to Afghan dry fruit importers

BOX— The contention

*As per regulations, dry fruit is required to undergo fumigation with methyl bromide.

*Since this chemical is not available with Afghanistan, the dry fruit received here was being treated with aluminium phosphide at the checkpost.

*As the process does not comply with stipulated norms, it was not acceptable, resulting in dumping of consignments worth crores, hampering the import.

GS PAUL

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 16

The importers of Afghanistan dry fruits, who were worried that their consignments would be dumped at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari for want of fumigation, were relieved after the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare extended a temporary relaxation in the norms.

Dry fruit, an agricultural product imported from Afghanistan, was earlier required to undergo fumigation with methyl bromide, only as stipulated by the Plant Quarantine wing (Regulation of Import into India), before clearance through the Attari-Wagah land route.

Since this chemical was not available with Afghanistan, the dry fruit received here was being treated with aluminium phosphide at the checkpost.

As the process did not comply with the stipulated norms, it was not acceptable, resulting in dumping of large consignments worth crores, hampering the import.

Aluminium Phosphide, a toxic substance, is not meant for human consumption. However, in more than 100 countries, it is used as an approved fumigant to protect certain substances from rodents and insects. Its ethical use help in the storage of food items for a longer period.

The issue was taken up by Anil Mehra, president of Federation of Dry Fruit and Karyana Merchants association, who, along with BJP leader Tarun Chugh, met Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.

Taking the issue into account, the agriculture ministry issued a notification to relax the fumigation laws for import of agricultural commodities from Afghanistan until March 31, 2022.

The orders stated that the consignments arriving till the stipulated date would be exempted from fumigation treatment.

Mehra said, “We were in trouble as the consignments got stuck due to these constraints and we suffered losses worth lakhs daily. This relief was earlier valid till October 31, but now it has been extended till March 31 which is a welcome step. We would now convince the ministry to allow it permanently to ensure smooth running of India-Afghanistan trade.”