Page 111 - SMUGGLING IN INDIA REPORT FOR 2020-2021

CHAPTER 5: PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY: EMERGING CONCERNS 65
Other Efforts towards the Health and Safety Objectives:
Agricultural produce
The DRI has made several seizures of agricultural produce in the year 2020-21, viz., areca nuts, black pepper, poppy seeds, etc. While many cases booked by the DRI address issues of valuation, many highlight the implications for public health and safety caused by non-adherence to mandatory compliances put in place to prevent/minimise safety and health risks. The outright smuggling cases involving the seizure of such items mainly from land and sea cargo also manifest the safety hazards posed by them on account of contravention of prescribed norms enunciated in regulatory frameworks such as the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Imports into India) Order, 2003 or the conditions laid down by the various Food Safety and Standards Regulations. Details of a few pertinent seizures are furnished below:
Areca nuts
Areca nut is widely consumed in India, particularly in the form of
pan masala and gutkha. As per the agreements under SAPTA and SAFTA, concessions are exchanged vide preferential rates on customs duty so as to promote mutual trade and economic cooperation amongst the member countries. Different mechanisms are in vogue along the entry points on the borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh that involve the use of fake documents to sustain the illicit trade of hazardous, rotten betel nuts being smuggled into India. The subject smuggling has not only caused huge revenue loss by way of duty evasion, but has also threatened the prospects and even livelihood of areca farmers in India. Also significant is the fact that areca nuts brought into India by concealment, mis- declaration etc., most often are not conforming to health standards and hence pose a serious threat to health and safety of its consumers as well.
In May 2020, the DRI officers visited Krishnapatnam Port and verified imports made by two