After six years and eight months, Bangladeshi betel leaf is going to be exported to Europe again. The first shipment will leave for the United Kingdom on Wednesday with about a ton of betel leaf. The exporters are hoping to regain the lost market through this.
Agriculture Minister Dr. Muhammad Abdur Razzaque will inaugurate the re-export to the UK and EU countries at the Central Packing House in Shampur BSIC Industrial Area of Dhaka.
Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) of the European Union (EU) imposed a ban on the import of Bangladeshi betel on July 29, 2014 due to the presence of harmful Salmonella bacteria in it. At first it was banned for one year but later it was extended.
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), the Center for Plant Quarantine and the Bangladesh Fruits Vegetable and Allied Products Exporters Association (BFVAPEA) began to comply with EU directives to withdraw the ban on betel exports. Work began with the betel growers of Mirpur in Kushtia, Mohanpur in Rajshahi, Harinakundu in Jhenaidah and Uzirpur in Barisal. Bangladesh is now producing Salmonella bacteria-free betel leaf. The EU withdrew the embargo last month after it was confirmed.
According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), before the ban was imposed, in the 2013-14 fiscal year, betel leaf exports were worth $3.93 crore. The next year the export was $ 1.13 crore. This is because, despite the ban, attempts are being made to export betel leaf to Europe under the guise of vegetables. Several such consignments were also seized. Later it gradually shut down. In the last fiscal year 2019-20, only $ 30,000 worth of betel was exported.
According to the exporters, betel leaf is exported to several countries in Europe including UK, France, Italy and Germany. However, the United Kingdom is the destination for 90 percent of the betel leaf in Europe. Apart from this, betel is also being exported to the Middle East. Mainly expatriate Bangladeshis are the buyers of betel leaf.
According to the exporters, Salmonella bacteria are mainly caused by irrigating with the pond or the surface water from any source. That is why underground water is used here. Farmers have been able to produce salmonella-free betel leaf since 2018. It was tested in an approved laboratory and found good results.
BFVAPEA sources said, “Since the imposition of sanctions on Bangladesh, the UK and EU betel market has been largely occupied by India. However, the EU has also imposed a ban on Indian betel leaf. Therefore, Bangladesh's betel exports to this region are expected to increase.”
