Pest-free blueberries import from Poland

Current Context : India initiates strict measures for import of pest-free blueberries from Poland.

• The government has mandated that the antioxidants-rich fruit imported from Poland be sourced from orchards registered with that country’s National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO).
• Currently, the market size of blueberries in India is relatively small, at around $60 million, compared to other fruits.
• The market for blueberries in India is expanding, with imports coming from countries like the US, Canada, Poland, and Peru.
• The blueberry market in India is currently valued at around $60 million, and aim to robust growth rate of 20-25% over the next three years.

ABOUT NATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION ORGANIZATION (NPPO)

• NPPO is a country-level institution that works to curb the spread of pests and protect agriculture.
• India is a signatory of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) under the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
• Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine and Storage, under the Union ministry of agriculture is the NPPO of India.
• It is responsible for implementation of phytosanitary certification program as per IPPC.