Betel leaf export to European Union (EU) countries from Bangladesh restarted Wednesday long after more than seven years.
Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque inaugurated the export at a programme held at Central Packing House, Shyampur in Dhaka on Wednesday.
The commerce ministry and Bangladesh Fruits Vegetables and Allied Products Exporters Association (BVFAPEA) arranged the programme, said a press release issued by the agriculture ministry.
In February 2014, the EU imposed a ban on betel leaf import from Bangladesh amid getting presence of salmonella bacteria in some of its consignments and the ban continued until the latest permission of the Union on April 15, 2021.
The agriculture minister said joint efforts of both the government concern agencies and private sector helped farmers adopting modern farm techniques to produce salmonella-free safe betel leaf which prompts the Union to permit shipment from Bangladesh.
The minister said the efforts will have to be continued so that exports wouldn't be hampered.
He said the government is highly emphasising producing safe food both for the global and domestic market.
Export earnings from the sector declined to the US $ 1.9 million in FY’20 from $29 million in FY’14 mainly for the EU ban, according to the Plant Quarantine Wing (PQW) under the agriculture ministry.
It said before the ban, Bangladesh exported 13,000-19,000 tonnes of betel leaf annually.
Meanwhile, lawmaker Abu Hossain Babla, senior secretary to agriculture ministry Mesbahul Islam, senior commerce secretary Dr Md Zafar Uddin, BVFAPEA President S M Jahangir also spoke at the export resume ceremony, among others. Director General of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Md Asadullah chaired the programme.
However, the export of betel leaf resumes with five companies, members of BFVAPEA, sent one tonne of leaves to UK buyers.
