Friday, February 17, 2017

Pea, lentil exports to India threatened

India is threatening to cut off imports of Canadian peas and lentils, possibly because it has had a huge harvest of its own.

India insists that all imports be fumigated with methyl bromide or a pesticide that is equally effective.

Canada does not allow the use of methyl bromide because of the environmental threat to the ozone layer.

But Canada says cold Prairie winters kill pests.

At issue is exports worth about $1.5 billion in 2015, and a market for a third of Canada’s exports of peas and lentils.


Already one shipping company has refused to transport a load to India because of uncertainty surrounding the issue.