Put off health stamp for milk, pork, fish imports: US to India

New Delhi: The US has asked India to delay by six months the requirement of a health certificate accompanied with imported food consignment of milk, pork and fish.

At the World Trade Organization (WTO) last week, Washington also suggested that the certificate requirement be deferred till the two sides can reach a mutually agreed solution. The EU, Australia and Japan also raised concerns on the issue. India now requires all milk and milk products, pork and pork products, and fish and fish products imported into the country to be accompanied with a health certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country.

The requirement is crucial to confirm that the milk had been processed to a temperature, which ensures destruction of organisms causing tuberculosis, listeriosis, paratuberculosis, Q fever and brucellosis. Also, the imports should not contain drugs, antibiotics, pesticides or heavy metal residues.


The US has alleged that this measure is trade restrictive specifically requiring duplication of certificates.

Washington said it "greatly values" the market opportunities in India and looks forward to expedited bilateral engagement between the competent technical authorities on the import certificate requirements with the goal of minimising trade disruptions.

"Given the complexity of the issues, the US requests that the implementation of the new certificate be delayed by at least six months or until we can reach a mutually agreed solution," it said. The US said India should only implement science and risk-based sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures that are "necessary to protect human, animal or plant life or health and are least trade restrictive".

SPS measures include all regulations, requirements and procedures to ensure the safety of agricultural products for humans, plants and animals. "We request that India notify this measure to the SPS committee and continue to allow current market access without trade disruptions as it further develops this measure," the US said.