Pulses fumigation allowed at Indian ports for three countries
The government has exempted pulses imported from Canada, France, and the US from mandatory fumigation at port of origin, a senior government official said on Wednesday. These countries have been allowed to fumigate pulses cargoes at Indian ports by paying only the fumigation fee, the official said.
"The relaxations have been granted to these countries in view of India's bilateral relations with them," the official said, reports Cogencis. The exemption paves the way for continued pulses imports from these countries.
For all other commodities, imported from other countries, the importers have to pay a high penalty in case fumigation is not done at the port of origin. The penalty is five times the inspection fee for the first default, seven times the inspection fee on second default and 10 times the fee on the third instance of default, or not meeting any conditions laid down under the plant quarantine norms. For subsequent defaults, the penalty increases exponentially.
Traders have challenged the high penalty levied on defaults in the Madurai High Court. Traders have also been seeking a reduction in the inspection fee charged by the phytosanitary authority, as their cost on imports has increased by USD 2-3 a tonnes due to the fee hike. The government had in May increased the fee for phytosanitary inspection of food grains and pulses by nearly three-fold.
For pulses, the inspection fee has been increased to Rs 4,000 for the first tonne, and Rs 150 rupees for each subsequent tonne, from Rs 2,500 and Rs 50, respectively. For food grains, the fee has been hiked to Rs 3,500 for the first tonne, and Rs 200 for each additional tonne from Rs 2,500 rupees and Rs 75, respectively.
The government has no plan, as of now, to lower the inspection fee, despite pressure from traders, the official said. "The fee has been hiked for the first time since 2004. Our expenses on infrastructure and manpower have gone up...There's no way we will agree to a cut," the official said.