A petition to reverse the ban on imports of Indian Alphonso mangoes has over 450 signatures following job losses and fears of “severe” damage to the mango industry.
Ashok Chowdry, owner of wholesaler and importer Fruity Fresh, which spearheaded the petition, said up to 20 per cent of his business will be ruined by the ban, which was announced by the EU earlier this month, and comes into place at the end of next week.
“We have already laid off 12 labour staff, and a further two or three management staff who we employ on a temporary basis during mango season will also be laid off,' Chowdry said.
“I won’t say it’s ridiculous as they obviously had a reason, but it’s very unfair. Banning is not the answer.”
The ban was proposed by the European Commission and is applicable across Europe, although the UK government had backed it - something Chowdry criticised.
The petition describes the ban as “excessively severe” and “a disproportionate step”, and warns it will render the entire trade of some importers and distributors “unfeasible”.
Outlining why the government should try and lift the ban in the interests of consumers and the UK economy, it says: “Growing for the season has commenced and so vast quantities of mangoes will be destroyed. For many growers and exporters in India the ban means the end of their business.”
A Defra spokesperson told FPJ: “India is a key trade partner, however we must protect our home-grown salad crops from pests and diseases which is why we supported the European Commission in introducing these temporary EU-wide restrictions.
“Experts from Europe and the UK are working with their Indian counterparts to resolve the issue and resume trade of these select products as soon as possible.”
Chowdry stressed that everyone in the sector will be affected - Indian producers, exporters, airlines, importers, and eventually the general public.
Fruity Fresh usually imports between 12 and 15 pallets of Indian mangoes a week, from mid-April to the end of July, and Chowdry said he spent £1.5million over eight weeks last year.
Imports of the same type of mango from Pakistan usually begin in the third week of May, but Chowdry said the recent announcement of enforced heat treatment could also cause problems.
“Mangoes can’t take the heat, they collapse and won’t ripen after being put in boiling water,” he said. “The quality will be totally ruined. And because of how long this process takes volumes will also drop.
“Pakistan was told that enforcing heat treatment for mangoes would keep the EU market open to them, but there are issues.”
The ban on Indian imports, which also applies to aubergines and certain types of gourds, was imposed after fruit flies were found in fewer than 5 per cent of all shipments. Defra has said that although the flies are not harmful to public health, there is a possible - though unproven - risk to agriculture.
Chowdry suggested that appropriate checking procedures should be put in place to eradicate the fly, rather than a ban that “could destroy” the whole Alphonso mango industry.
He said he hopes the petition will reach 100,000 signatures, and added that this weekend there will be a push through the company’s wholesale networks.
“I’ve been in the business for 20 years and every year volumes have increased. London is the main export destination for Indian mangoes, all airlines are full,” he said.
Fruity Fresh supplies wholesale markets across the UK, including Glasgow, Leicester, Bradford and Manchester.
The ban on Indian imports is set to be reviewed in December 2015. It followed a formal warning by the EU to India to improve the quality of its fresh produce shipments.
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