Kazi Zahidul Hasan :The country’s vegetables export faces serious setback because of a stringent compliance rule imposed by the importing nations, especially the European Union (EU), insiders said.They said, such a rule is seriously holding back shipment prospect in key export markets resulting in the sharp fall in overall export value. Prior to it, the EU had imposed strict heath and hygiene rules, particularly the sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) standards to act as backdoor protection against entry of harmful vegetables from developing countries, including Bangladesh.According to an official figure, the country’s vegetables export stood at US$8.84 million during the first two months (July-August) of the current fiscal compared with US$22.35 million export during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. The figure indicates that export from the sector witnessed a sharp fall by 60.45 per cent during the period under review. “Our export faces immense challenge following imposition of SPS standards by the European countries, including the UK,” SM Jahangir Hossain, President of Bangladesh Fruits, Vegetables and Allied Products Exporters Association (BFVAPEA) told The New Nation on Wednesday. He said, each government has imposed rigorous inspections on our export consignments to comply the EU’s stringent food safety standards. They have scrapped delivery of many export consignments after detection of fungal poison to them contributing to fall in export.According to him, about 100 items of fruits and vegetables are exported from Bangladesh to more than 40 countries in the world. Among the countries, the European nations account for 32 per cent and the Middle-East countries 50 per cent market share.Jahangir Hossain further said, the UK is a key export market for local vegetables and like other European governments, the British authority is seriously watching application of the heath and hygiene rules to ensure safe food for their consumers.”We recognise and support the right of the British government to take legitimate actions to ensure safe food. However, such safety standard may have a short-term impact on our export. But it may be beneficial in the long-term by implicating organism free cultivation of vegetables by growers,” he added.The BFVAPEA leader mentioned that the government has already moved forward to implement a work plan under which it will ensure harmful organism-free exports of fruits and vegetables in the European countries.”The plan is under implementation in line with the requirements of the EU. Once the work plan is fully implemented, it will ensure exports of vegetable and fruits free from insects, fungi, bacteria and viruses to EU and other countries,” he added.He also said that the government has also asked all of its concerned agencies to ensure proper inspection and strictly apply phytosanitary export control method while exporting vegetables and fruits to the EU countries.As part of the working plan, it also involved the country’s agro-scientists and agricultural extension officers to ensure quality produces at the growers level. Besides, it will also develop a central packaging house to ensure compliance with the EU requirements, he said.Bangladesh earned $103.24 million from the export of vegetables in the last fiscal year (2014-15).The country is exporting fresh vegetables, including bitter gourd, brinjal, okra, bean, green chili, cauliflower, teasel gourd, parbal, bottle gourd, staring bean, sword bean, ladies finger, potato, carrot, tomato, cabbage, cauliflower and fresh coriander leaf.
