Uday Dholakia, Chairman of the National Asian Business Association informed the media in the UK, Africa and the Indian sub-continent that “imports of fresh curry leaves will no longer be permitted into the UK from, 18 August 2015. This follows a close liaison by the UK regulators and the third countries involved in exporting such leaves and investigations into options to ensure that such leaves can be exported free of the causal organism of citrus greening disease and the insect vectors which carry it”.
The UK Regulators, namely DEFRA “restricted imports to those from Ghana, Gambia, Kenya and the Dominican Republic which offered the best prospects of demonstrating compliance with the EU requirements, or proposing an alternative system which offered equivalent guarantees. This was on a trial basis, pending development of possible cases to be submitted to the European Commission” confirmed Dholakia.
The regulators unfortunately have not been able to identify any countries which are able to meet the EU requirements, on freedom from both the pathogen and its vectors, which would allow imports of fresh curry leaves to continue. Neither has it been possible to identify alternative import requirements, which could reliably ensure freedom from the pathogen and its vectors in curry leaves.
“As a last resort” stated Dholakia, “DEFRA had to bring the UK fully into line with EU import requirements, by prohibiting further imports of fresh curry leaves”. “The close cooperation of DEFRA officers with NABA has been greatly appreciated”.
By allowing imports (subject to satisfactory inspection at the point of import) until 18 August this will avoid blocking consignments already in the process of being exported. From 18 August, only dried and frozen curry leaves will be permitted to be imported.
It remains possible for imports of fresh curry leaves to resume in future, if third countries are able to demonstrate to the Commission and Plant Health Standing Committee that they can meet the EU import requirements.
“I am very pleased that the UK has been able to play its part in supporting India through this period, including through technical assistance provided by Defra’s Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate.”
The Opportunity
“This challenge” confirmed Dholakia with genuine optimism “affords the UK Government departments such as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department of Business Innovation and Skills, the UKTI and the DEFRA and other regulators a unique opportunity to illustrate leadership in evolving World Class regulatory models with regulators and governments in anglophile countries. The UK plc has world class universities and training institutions that can roll-out and share best practice. NABA is ready to be an active leader and partner in this”.
