India may re-allow imports of New Zealand logs
India's log trade with New Zealand once peaked at 1.7 million cubic metres per year, valued at about $250 million.
In comparison, China was exporting about 19 million cubic metres per year and about 2 million cubic metres to South Korea.
But a decision by India's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ban the use of methyl bromide as a fumigant in the New Zealand sourcing trade has brought the trade to a standstill. The use of MB remains mandatory under Indian regulations and no alternatives have been proposed.
Earlier last month, MPI updated its phytosanitary requirements for log exports from India to allow fumigation of logs in the hold of a ship on arrival in India, in lieu of treatment prior to departure from New Zealand.
Perhaps New Zealand's log trade to India is possible under the new Indian policy.
