Indians in Qatar, who have been missing fruits and vegetables grown in their own country, have reasons to rejoice as the Ministry of Public Health has lifted the temporary ban that was in place on its imports.
Qatari authorities have lifted the temporary ban on fresh, chilled and frozen vegetables and fruits from India, imposed towards the end of May this year, following reports of the outbreak of Nipah virus in a northern Kerala district.
According to information released Thursday by the Health and Food Control section of the Ministry of Public Health to importers of foodstuffs in the country, the Joint Commission for the Control of Food for human consumption announced the decision to lift the ban.
The decision follows the stabilisation of the epidemiological situations following the outbreak of Nipah virus.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) also declared earlier this month that the effects of Nipah virus have been effectively controlled in the region of Kerala, where the outbreak was reported in May.
"Therefore permission has been granted to import fresh, chilled and frozen fruits and vegetables from India, particularly the southern state Kerala," the note said.
Following the ban, there had been a shortage of the much sought after vegetables and fruits from Kerala, in local shops, for more than 45 days.
"However, as a considerably large number of the Indian expatriates, notably those from Kerala, are on vacation, the shortage of some of the vegetables and fruits from the state had only a marginal impact in the market," said a retailer.
Tag: Qatar News