Ghana to resume vegetable exports to EU next year

ACCRA, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) has lifted a ban on Ghanaian vegetables after phytosanitary requirements are satisfied, local media reported on Wednesday.

Three years ago, the EU placed a ban on exports of chilli pepper, bottle gourds, luffa gourds, bitter gourds and eggplants from Ghana over concerns such as poor quality and packaging.

The decision means that from Jan. 1 next year, exporters of these vegetables will have duty-free and quota-free access to the EU market, like any other product from Ghana, according to a report carried by the state-run Daily Graphic newspaper.

Ghana is estimated to have lost about 30 million U.S. dollars in export revenue following the ban on vegetable exports to the EU.