Update: The CFIA has told Fresh Fruit Portal that there were no import restrictions on the agricultural products in question, saying access to the Canadian market place for these commodities had been in place "for some time." Confusion remains as to the timing and motivation of APEDA's letter.

Canadian authorities have clarified market access requirements for a range of Indian horticultural commodities - pomegranates, bananas, mangoes, custard apples and okra.

In letter to the industry published on August 21, India's Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) said the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) had approved exports.

The shipments will be subject to requirements including that the origin of the material be clearly identified on shipping documents and that the produce is free from soil, pests and leaves.

"The interested exporters of above mentioned commodities are advised to contact the Canadian importers to start export from India subject to compliance of above mentioned requirements," the letter said.

"Further, it may also be noted that the all the exporters must ensure packaging, labelling and other requirements pertaining to the Canadian import requirements."

It is not clear whether access was granted to all the products at once, or separately over a period of time.

Canada last year opened its doors for Indian table grapes.

"Canada is supportive of opening its market to us, unlike some other developed economies,” an unnamed official was quoted as saying by local media The Economic Times of India.

The story reported pomegranates were likely to be exported "in good quantities and also fetch good prices".

The development reportedly comes in the wake of the two countries resuming negotiations for a free trade agreement this week after a two-year hiatus. Canadian negotiators traveled to India for the talks, the story said.

India's agro-food exports to Canada were US$125.5 million in 2016-17, it added.

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