The Leicester East MP has been campaigning to get the European Union to drop the mango ban since it was put in place in May this year. The ban was introduced after pests including fruit flies were repeatedly found in hundreds of shipments into Europe. UK politicians backed the ban because they were worried the flies could damage this country’s £321 million tomato and cucumber industry. Mr Vaz described the ban as “Euro-nonsense and bureaucracy gone mad”.
Since May, the Indian government has introduced new monitoring systems and in September the EU’s own experts went to inspect the new systems.
The EU is currently discussing whether to lift the ban and a decision is expected in the coming days.
Mr Vaz said: “The investigation by the European Union Food and Veterinary Office has created an important opportunity to end this damaging and unnecessary ban, which I and others have repeatedly campaigned against. Businesses across the United Kingdom and India have been harmed by the decision to ban imports earlier this year, with costs from lost trade in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions.
“I am pleased to see recognition of the improvements made by India to guarantee these exports are safe, and strongly urge the European Union to once again allow this delicious fruit to be imported by member states. Furthermore, I hope the UK government demonstrates their commitment to our relationship with India and make representations to the European Union on this matter.”
Mr Vaz’s campaign to lift the ban has included a trip to Brussels to see the relevant EU commissioners. He also tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons, calling on the UK government to support the removal of the import ban, which affected alphonso mangoes, aubergines, taro plants, bitter gourd and snake gourd.
Maynesh Rayarel, director of Laxmi Enterprises GB Ltd, trading as ATC Retail, in Melton Road, Belgrave, said he was looking forward to the ban being lifted as soon as possible.
He said: “We are still keeping an eye on the situation as this affects us a lot and we would very much like to see the ban lifted. There are no mangoes like Indian mangoes, so while this ban is in affect we’re not importing any at all. We sell to restaurants but they’re not interested in mangoes from anywhere else.”
