Vietnam Lifts Ban on Import of Indian Groundnut- Major Step Forward in Securing Market Access

Vietnam has formally lifted the ban on import of Indian Groundnut, thereby providing market access after nine months. The Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development (MARD) have formally communicated the decision to the Indian Government stating that Plant Protection Department of Vietnam (PPD) will issue import permits for groundnuts for January 18th 2016.

The lifting of ban has come in the wake of visit of Vietnam delegation to India in December 2015. The delegation was satisfied after seeing fumigation facilities, export procedures and export certification system for export of groundnuts export from India, as per the Standard Operating Procedure developed by Directorate of plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage, Faridabad.

Background

Vietnam had temporarily suspended import of groundnuts from India w.e.f, 6th April, 2015 due to interceptions of quarantine pests living Caryedon serratus and Trogodrma granarium intercepted in consignments of groundnuts exported since January, 2015.

In order to resolve this problem, DAC&FW forwarded technical information for finalizing the Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) of the groundnut bruchid (Caryedon serratus Olivier), detailed report on investigation and remedial measures taken along with Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and action taken in the matter to Vietnam.