Local consumers will soon be able to savour South Korean pears with the Government clearing the way for import of the fruit after pest-risk analysis.
The go-ahead, awarded earlier this week after ensuring that there is no risk of introduction of alien pests, comes just days ahead of the fifth round of negotiations of the review of the India-Korea comprehensive economic partnership agreement, or CEPA, which is slated for later in May.
“It is a technical clearance after which importers will have to get in touch with Korea and negotiate prices,” said an official aware of the development.
Import of pears from South Korean has received a green signal at a time when inbound shipment of the fruit from China remains suspended— for almost a year now— on account of pests being repeatedly found in the consignments.
India imports pears from the US, CIS countries and South Africa.
In the April-February period of 2017-18, the Country imported pears worth about $15.19 million.
The pears from South Korea can enter India only after going through a series of tests. Under phytosanitary clearance, the special conditions of imports are fumigation and cold treatment to weed out eight types of pests.
Source:-Dailyshippingtimes.com
