NEW DELHI: In a major relief for India’s poultry exporters, the new UK-India trade agreement ensures that poultry imports from India will only be restricted from specific disease-affected zones, rather than imposing a blanket ban across the country. This is a significant win for the poultry and egg industry, offering greater trade stability and export opportunity—even in times of disease outbreaks like bird flu.
According to officials, the deal allows for the concept of “compartmentalization”—meaning that poultry products can still be exported from disease-free zones or compartments even if an outbreak occurs in another region. The UK has committed to evaluating these disease-free zones scientifically, based on data provided by Indian authorities.
🧪 Science-Based Standards = Smoother Trade
Another welcome move: India and the UK have agreed to mutual recognition of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards, provided they are technically justified. This breakthrough benefits a wide range of agri-products such as:
- Poultry and eggs 🐣
- Spices 🌶️
- Basmati rice 🍚
- Tea and coffee ☕
- Honey 🍯
- Seafood and shrimps 🦐
As part of the seafood agreement, a new national audit system will also reduce delays in shrimp exports, with individual units no longer needing repeated inspections once the national control mechanism is approved.
🐓 A First for India: Animal Welfare & AMR
Interestingly, this deal also marks India’s first-ever inclusion of animal welfare and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) cooperation in a trade pact. It reflects a growing global emphasis on ethical practices and sustainable food systems.
For India’s poultry sector, this trade deal not only protects current exports but opens up more consistent and scalable access to high-value markets like the UK.
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