The Commerce Ministry has asked exporters to strictly adhere to sanitary and phyto-sanitary norms, saying that non-compliance could damage the image of the country.
In a trade notice, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) also said that action would be taken against exporters for non-compliance of these rules which pertain to food safety and animal and plant health requirements. The warning follows a complaint received from the agriculture ministry with regard to non-compliance with global norms. It said that the Department of Agriculture “|has brought to the notice of this directorate about various instances of non-compliance of sanitary/phyto-sanitary measures by Indian exporters while exporting goods”.
“Importing countries have been making complaints against Indian exporters, which amounts to disrepute to the image of the country and that can adversely impact the interest of other exporters as well as of the country as a whole,” it added. The action for not following these rules could include monetary fine or suspension and cancellation of trade licence.
Sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures came into force with the establishment of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on January 1, 1995. It concerns the applications of food safety and animal and plant health regulations. India is signatory to this agreement.
