The Nepalese government has banned imports of fresh roses from countries like India and China ahead of Valentine's Day.
Written byTimes Magazine
The Nepalese government has banned imports of fresh roses from countries like India and China ahead of Valentine's Day, according to a news report published on Friday.
The Department of Agriculture's Plant Quarantine and Pesticide Management Center ordered subordinate border agencies not to issue the import permit for rose petals in a notice Thursday, citing the risk of plant diseases.
The center banned the import of rose petals, citing special reasons in a written address to 15 customs posts along the borders of Nepal, India and China, My Republica newspaper reported.
Valentine's Day is celebrated annually on February 14th.
The notice states that roses cannot be imported from Kakadbhitta in the east to Gadda Chowki in the west and at any customs post in the north.
"All offices in the center are requested not to issue import permits for rose petals unless otherwise agreed for specific reasons," the statement reads.
The Center for Plant Quarantine and Pesticide Management said the import has been halted for the time being due to the risk of plant diseases.
Mahesh Chandra Acharya, information officer at the center, said the import was halted immediately due to the possibility of diseases and insects in the plant products.
It can be seen that roses and other plants are at risk of disease. Therefore, the import will be halted for a while as there is no adequate study on such diseases, Acharya said.
As the technical committee meeting is still pending, further decisions will be made after the meeting, Acharya said.
According to the Customs Bureau, Nepal imported 10,612 kg of rose petals worth 1 rupee.3 million in the first six months of this fiscal year.
JB Tamang, the Nepal Floriculture Association (NFA) program coordinator, said the government's decision would now result in a shortage of roses on the market. According to the NFA, around 300,000 rose bushes are sold in Nepal around Valentine's Day. He said that only about 20,000 roses are produced in Nepal.
,
traders say nearly 80 percent of the demand for red roses is met by imports, the Kathmandu Post newspaper reported.
Demand for long-stemmed red roses rises to 150,000 stems on Valentine's Day, NFA says.
Most local flower growers can produce between 30,000 and 40,000 stems, the rest has to be imported from India. Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata are the main suppliers of red roses from Nepal.
Valentine's Day is celebrated annually on February 14th.
The notice states that roses cannot be imported from Kakadbhitta in the east to Gadda Chowki in the west and at any customs post in the north.
"All offices in the center are requested not to issue import permits for rose petals unless otherwise agreed for specific reasons," the statement reads.
The Center for Plant Quarantine and Pesticide Management said the import has been halted for the time being due to the risk of plant diseases.
Mahesh Chandra Acharya, information officer at the center, said the import was halted immediately due to the possibility of diseases and insects in the plant products.
It can be seen that roses and other plants are at risk of disease. Therefore, the import will be halted for a while as there is no adequate study on such diseases, Acharya said.
As the technical committee meeting is still pending, further decisions will be made after the meeting, Acharya said.
According to the Customs Bureau, Nepal imported 10,612 kg of rose petals worth 1 rupee.3 million in the first six months of this fiscal year.
JB Tamang, the Nepal Floriculture Association (NFA) program coordinator, said the government's decision would now result in a shortage of roses on the market. According to the NFA, around 300,000 rose bushes are sold in Nepal around Valentine's Day. He said that only about 20,000 roses are produced in Nepal.
,
traders say nearly 80 percent of the demand for red roses is met by imports, the Kathmandu Post newspaper reported.
Demand for long-stemmed red roses rises to 150,000 stems on Valentine's Day, NFA says.
Most local flower growers can produce between 30,000 and 40,000 stems, the rest has to be imported from India. Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata are the main suppliers of red roses from Nepal.
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