Export of betel leaves to EU subject to registration with APEDA now

New Delhi, Apr 11 (KNN) The Commerce Ministry has said that the export of betel leaves to EU will be subject to registration with Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

In a notification, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said, “Export of Betel leaves to European Union is subject to registration with APEDA.

The move comes after the European Union (EU) raised concerns over the quality of betel leaves exported to the region from India.

In August 2014, Apeda had advised Indian exporters to immediately stop export of betel leaves to the EU, unless the products were tested in Apeda-approved laboratories.

Apeda had said in its advisory: "There have been reports of the likelihood of betel leaves becoming the next product to be banned by the EU. Several rapid alerts have been reported. The prime reason of these rapid alerts appears to be detection of salmonella (a bacteria that causes diarrhoea and vomiting). India's annual export of betel leaves is close to $500,000 with the UK accounting for nearly 20 per cent of the exports. (KNN Bureau)