India has given another last-minute extension to a waiver allowing Canadian pulse exports to the country without the required pest treatment, Canadian Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay says.
Uncertainty around whether Canadian pea and lentil exports to India would be allowed in had caused some shippers to refuse to take the cargo, and threatened to disrupt trade with a country that bought $1.1 billion worth of pulses last year.
The three-month extension comes just before the previous six-month waiver was set to expire at the end of March, and despite comments by India that more extensions would not be granted.
READ MORE: Canadian pulse farmers dealt blow as India rejects exemption for pest treatment
Pulse Canada chair Lee Moats said the industry group was pleased with the extension, and the priority given to the issue by the Canadian government.
MacAulay said in a statement that he and International Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne secured the extension after a meeting with Indian officials in Delhi earlier in March.
He said Canada would continue to work towards a long-term, science-based solution to the fumigation issue, which India has been granting exemptions to since 2004.
READ MORE: Canada’s pea and lentil pesticide problem with India
The Saskatchewan government said it was pleased with the extension.
“This extension creates stability for Saskatchewan pulse exports and we will support continued discussions from both governments on a long-term, science-based solution,” Saskatchewan’s Minister Responsible for Trade Jeremy Harrison said.
“We look forward to building upon our already strong trading relationship.”
Saskatchewan is Canada’s leading producer of pulses and exported $1.1 billion of pulse crops to India in 2016.
With files from Global News
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