House of Commons to discuss EU ban on Indian mangos

London: The 28-member European Union’s ban on the import of Indian mangoes will figure in a debate in Britain’s House of Commons next week, amidst widespread criticism of the ban from exporters and consumers. [caption id=“attachment_1505511” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  UK imports around 6.3-million pounds worth of Indian mangoes per year. AFP[/caption] “The Speaker of the House of Commons has granted a parliamentary debate on the EU ban on the importation of Indian Alphonso mangoes. It will take place on Thursday 8 May at approximately 6pm,” said leading NRI Labour MP Keith Vaz, who called for the debate. “I am delighted Speaker has granted us a debate at such an early stage of this ban,” he said. The “temporary ban” which came into force on Wednesday will remain effective until December 2015 after authorities in Brussels found consignments infested with pests they fear could damage European salad crops. “Today (May 1) is the first day of the mango ban. Each day is costing UK retailers millions of pounds and is putting at risk the special relationship between Britain and India. I hope that the government can act quickly on this matter to end this crisis,” Vaz said on Wednesday. UK imports around 6.3-million pounds worth of Indian mangoes per year out of a UK mango market worth 68 million pounds in total. PTI