Qatar lifts temporary ban on Indian fruits and vegetables

The Qatari ban on fresh, chilled and frozen vegetables and fruits from India has been lifted by the…

The Qatari ban on fresh, chilled and frozen vegetables and fruits from India has been lifted by the Qatari authorities. The ban was imposed around the end of May this year, after an outbreak of the Nipah Virus in the northern Kerala district was reported.

According to information released by the Health and Food Control section of the Ministry of Public Health to importers of foodstuffs in the country, the Joint Commission for the Control of Food for human consumption announced the decision to lift the ban.

The decision to lift the ban follows the declaration of the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the effects of Nipah virus have been effectively controlled in the region of Kerala.

"Therefore permission has been granted to import fresh, chilled and frozen fruits and vegetables from India, particularly the southern state Kerala," the note said.

The ban did cause some issues, as there have been shortages at local retail outlets for more than 45 days when it comes to certain vegetables and fruits from Kerala.

"However, as a considerably large number of the Indian expatriates, notably those from Kerala, are on vacation, the shortage of some of the vegetables and fruits from the state had only a marginal impact in the market," said a retailer.

Source: Gulf-Times