There’s good news for exports on poultry and meat front. After being banned for 5 years, Indian exporters can now export to the European countries. According to European Commission, Indian meat and poultry exporters will need to get a new Health Certificate from India’s Export Inspection Council. All the manufacturers exporting domestic poultry, wild game birds and meat products made of intestines, stomachs and bladders will need this amended form of certification.
The exporters can still send consignments with the existing certificates till 30th September 2014, if they sign the new certificate before 30th July 2014.
The industry has welcomed this move by the European Union and could see good news for the poultry sector in India. Overall, the European Union’s decision has spread positive sentiments among India’s poultry and meat industry.
On one hand, one segment of the industry is optimistic however the other segment of the industry has expressed apprehensions about the continuing stringent specifications to be followed by the companies in the European region. The group says that a potentially large number of companies will not be able to qualify because of the requirements suggested by EU. The group is not expecting big boost to the poultry and processed meat business in India, however, they hope that the relaxations will definitely boost India’s prospects in other countries.
European Union had banned India’s poultry and meat products after a bird flu outbreak about 5 years ago. But the fear in the region has been subsided after India culled million of chickens.
Indian authorities have been working for long to sort the relaxation in quality standards to resume exports. India’s current processed meat and poultry business is worth around Rs 500 crore per year, out of which around 20-25 percent belongs to European Union.
Leave a Reply