The European Union (EU) may consider imposing a ban on Bangladesh's vegetable and fruit export to its member-states in the event of the latter's failure to show major improvements in ensuring harmful organism-free exports by September 30, diplomatic sources said.
Such threat of tough action stems from Bangladesh's 'continued non-compliance with Union requirements' and failure to take adequate corrective measures to make sure that consignments of exports bound for the EU destinations are free from insects, fungi, bacteria and viruses.
"I have to inform you that such measures (safeguard) are currently being considered by the commission, if no major improvement is seen before 30 September 2014," Martin Seychell, Deputy Director-General of EU's Health and Consumers Directorate General, wrote in a recent letter to Bangladesh Ambassador to Belgium Ismat Jahan.
He also wrote: "I fully understand that any trade restriction may affect the economy of your country, but exports of plants and plant products shall be done without compromising the health of the European plants and agricultural sector."
Mr Seychell also forwarded an overview of the interceptions of consignments during the last four years by the EU member-states during checks at the point of entry within the European Union.
"These interventions are justified on the basis that the imported consignments of the referred products contain harmful organisms which are not authorised to enter into the EU," he wrote.
Most of the consignments of fruits, vegetables, flowers and planting material, which allegedly contained viruses and bacteria, were certified safe by authorities concerned in the country.
It is also mentioned in the letter that the EU considers that the total number of interceptions, in particular those with the critical commodities, means pronounced phytosanitary risk for the EU. At the same time, they reflect the inefficiencies of the phytosanitary export controls in Bangladesh.
"Unfortunately, there are no improvements in the trend of interceptions being made," the letter reads.
In 2010 and 2013, the Food and Veterinary Office of the European Commission's Health and Consumers Directorate General carried out two audits on phytosanitary measures taken by Bangladesh. At the same time, Bangladesh submitted two action plans to the EU, pledging steps to keep exports virus-and bacteria-free.
However, many of the pledges have yet to be implemented. And such lapses risk putting country's several hundred million dollars worth of export earning at stake.
Mr Seychell also requested Bangladesh government to provide an action plan detailing the measures put in place in order to correct the shortcomings.
Sources concerned said after having received the letter, Bangladesh recently sent an action plan to the EU with a fresh pledge to implement various steps by June 2015.
The Ministry of Agriculture prepared the action plan wherein the EU was assured of taking steps to prevent export-certification fraudulence, launching contract farming under government monitoring, strengthening inspection and increasing laboratory infrastructures.
It also vowed to start contract farming of Amaranthus plants like betel leaf, brinjal and gourds under direct monitoring of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).
The other pledges include joint certification of products for export by the Ministry of Commerce, the National Board of Revenue, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh and the Exporters' Association to stop forgery of export certificates, checking every consignment of farm products by the agriculture ministry, and training farmers, exporters, lab people and officials to help in ensuring compliance with EU quality requirements.
When contacted, president of Bangladesh Fruits, Vegetables and Allied Products Exporters' Association (BFVAPEA) S M Jahangir Hossain told the FE Friday that they were trying to export fruits and vegetables according to the European Union (EU) countries' guidelines.
"We are hopeful that we will be able to overcome the problem soon through taking further phytosanitary measures," he said.
Mr Hossain said they pack fruits and vegetables making those free of bacteria and viruses. "Sometimes insects may grow in fruits and vegetables after packaging."
He said traders have been demanding of the government to set up a central warehouse for fruit and vegetable exports. But, even after the lapse of a decade, no warehouse has been established.
Further explaining the problem, the association leader said it is not that only the fruits and vegetables exported from Bangladesh carry insects, viruses and bacteria. "Exports from India and Thailand to the EU also contain harmful organisms -- and face ban."
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