Traders said the Indian customs and quarantine office have refused to accept garlic exported from Nepal. The restriction came amid reports that Chinese garlic is finding way to India in the name of Nepali garlic.[break]
“The quarantine officials at Indian customs on the other side of Biratnagar claim the exports are mere transshipment of Chinese garlic. Unfortunately, they are not recognizing the local certificate of origin as well,” said Tej Prasad Kandel, proprietor of Hari Om Enterprises- an exporter of Nepali garlic to India.
Going by the bilateral trade pact, India should allow entry of goods bearing local certificate of origin.
“What is the point of introducing the provision of certificate of origin, if India straightaway refuses to recognize it and say these are not Nepali products,” Kandel said.
Garlic is one of the leading agricultural exports of Nepal. Customs record shows Nepal exports 20 tons of garlic every day to India from Biratnagar alone. Nepal imports a substantial volume of garlic from China as well. But traders said the Chinese imports are meant for local consumption.
“We export a major chunk of domestic produce to India and import Chinese produce to manage the resulting local demand-supply mismatch. This is not wrong,” said another exporter of garlic.
However, Indian officials argue that they suspect the exports being Chinese produce, not Nepali.
Given the situation, Sharada Group, a business house involved in the export of garlic to India, has approached the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS), seeking the ministry´s cooperation for unhindered export of garlic to the northern neighbor. It has requested the ministry to take up the case seriously and talk with the Indian counterparts.
This is not the first time India has imposed restrictions on Nepali garlic exports. Such restrictions have been imposed time and again. However, the problem is resolved after the matter is talked at the higher level.
“The government must tighten issuance of certificate of origin, if there are wrongdoings. It must not be a cause for India to restrict genuine exports,” stated Kandel.
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