At the time of writing it is the responsibility of India to cover the costs of the USDA inspectors.
Last year the inspectors visited the country twice to clear mangoes, for the first time they had been exported in 18 years. Around 180 tonnes were exported.
One visit, which lasted 21 days, cost India $85,000 US.
The issue came up for discussion at a meeting last month between commerce ministry officials and their US counterparts.
“We told them that India can certify on its own that the mango consignments have been through the required irradiation process and conforms to global sanitary and phytosanitary standards,” a commerce ministry official said.
“Apeda (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) incurred the cost last year in order to facilitate re-opening of exports after such a long gap. However, it is not possible for us to bear such an expenditure year-on-year. We have communicated to them that we are well equipped to carry on the specific inspection procedures and there is no need to send their inspectors,” said S Dave, director, Apeda.
The authority says that the exporters can not afford the costs at the current prices and raising them would make the fruit un-competitive.
Source: www.business-standard.com/india
