Business Desk :
The government has imposed a self-ban on vegetable export to the European Union market to avert any possible ban to be imposed by the bloc from where Bangladesh has been receiving objections for the last few years over the quality of Bangladeshi vegetables and fruits.
Rather the government is focusing on encouraging local growers to correct themselves following Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), reports UNB.
However, the government has introduced “contract farming” for local growers who will be allowed to export to the EU market maintaining the required quality, confirms officials at the Commerce Ministry and Agriculture Ministry.
Contract farming is an agricultural production carried out as per an agreement between a buyer and farmers, which establishes conditions for the production and marketing of a farm product or products. Under such an agreement, the farmer agrees to provide agreed quantities of a specific agricultural product.
“The measure has been taken since many are reportedly exporting vegetables through producing fake Phytosanitary certificates. Such practices bring more harm than benefits,” Commerce Secretary (in-charge) Subhashish Bose said during an interview with the news agency.
Phytosanitary certificates are issued to indicate that the consignments of plants, plant products or other regulated articles meet specified phytosanitary import requirements, and are in conformity with the certifying statement of the appropriate model certificate.
“We want to export quality products. Nobody wants to see that the entire market door gets closed for a handful of people who are forging documents or their products with problems,” said the Commerce Secretary.
Contacted, Bangladesh Fruits, Vegetables and Allied Products Exporters Association (BFVAPEA) General Secretary Mohammad Monsur said during a meeting at the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) in the beginning of May, a committee was formed comprising representatives from EPB, Department of Agricultural Extension, Agriculture Ministry and vegetable exporters. The committee is scheduled to write to Commerce and Agriculture Ministries recommending easing rules to remove export difficulties.
“There has been no decision yet,” Mohammad Monsur said, adding that he does not have any idea whether the self-ban on vegetables export to the EU market will be withdrawn at all or not.
