India-UK trade deal: Only partial curbs on country's poultry exports

NEW DELHI: In a relief for exporters, the UK trade deal provides for restricting poultry imports from only certain parts of India, as opposed to all exports from the country, with a new audit system for shrimps expected to speed up shipments as individual units will not be subject to repeated audits once the national control system is approved.

Besides, the nations have agreed to accept each other's standards or sanitary and phytosanitary measures if they are "technically justified". The move is expected to benefit products ranging from spices, basmati rice, and tea and coffee to seafood, poultry and eggs, and honey, sources said. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement marks the first time that cooperation-based provisions on animal welfare and challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance in animals have been negotiated by India.

An official said in event of bird flu, India can continue poultry exports from compartments or zones recognised as disease-free. The UK must assess requests for recognition of such zones or compartments from India based on scientific evidence, allowing trade from these unaffected areas.