Comply with ICO norms, coffee industry told

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, JAN. 12. The Central Coffee Board has urged coffee exporters, curers and growers to comply with the International Coffee Organisation (ICO) norms and national import laws.

An official release gave details of the "sanitary and phytosanitary measures as well as certificates of origin" that those in the industry needed to be aware of once quantitative restrictions (QRs) were lifted from April 1, 2001.

Quarantine measures: Import of green coffee is currently covered by the Plant, Fruits and Seeds (PF&S) (Regulation of Import into India) order, 1989. The consignments must have phytosanitary certificates issued by competent authorities from the country of origin and, on arrival, have to be inspected and fumigated by the port Plant Protection Adviser (PPA).

Moreover, imported coffee has to be inspected and cleared by the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage and kept under quarantine till the PPA clears it. Copies of the 1989 PF&S order are available at the offices of the Board, the release said.

Certificate of origin: The Board issues Certificates of Origin (CO) for different types and forms of coffee. Each bag for export is "currently marked in accordance with Rule 3 of the Rules on the CO system and the ICO code allotted by the Coffee Board", the release said.

Export permits: The Board has stated that it will not issue export permits or (COs) for the re-export of green coffee or imported green coffee mixed with Indian coffee. Exporters have been asked to declare that the exported coffee is of 100 per cent Indian origin. The Export Permit Application is being suitably modified to incorporate the declaration, the release said.

Coffee imports: The volume and value of imported coffee has to be submitted to the Board by origin, type and form so that data can be compiled and transmitted to the ICO. Importers also have to main separate accounts for imports and "in no case should imports be mixed and bulked with coffees of Indian origin for export".

Imported coffees must also be separately stored in curing works and proper accounts maintained.

The release urged the coffee industry to adhere to the laws and ICO norms so that "the integrity and quality of Indian coffee is maintained".

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