Now, methyl bromide fumigation has been started for the first time in the country from the ICP in Nepalgunj.
What you should know
The Indian government has made methyl bromide fumigation mandatory for the export of certain wood products and herbs, including pine needles. Although the law was enacted nearly 50 years ago, it has not yet been implemented.
Now, methyl bromide fumigation has been started for the first time in the country at the ICP in Nepalgunj. It is used to destroy insects hidden in fruits, vegetables, grains and wood packaging, for quarantine security, and to meet international standards in exports and imports.
After continuous pressure and efforts from the business community, methyl bromide fumigation has been started for the first time at the ICP. Local business community is excited to start it for the first time in the country after 50 years of the law.
Tanka Prasad Sharma, President of the Nepal Herbalists Association, said that after the Indian government made methyl bromide fumigation mandatory for the export of some wood products and herbs, including pine needles, those herbs have been stored in the warehouses of herbalists for two years.
He informed that 40 metric tons of pine needles were fumigated with methyl bromide for the first time. According to him, the process of controlling germs and insects by keeping the related items in a very closed place and releasing methyl bromide gas is called methyl bromide fumigation.
With this, the association has said that the export process of two thousand metric tons of pine needles that were stored in local warehouses has begun. Advisor and businessman of the Nepal Herbalists Association Rabindranath Shukla said that the export of about a hundred containers of pine needles that were stored in Nepalgunj and collected in the hilly districts has now begun.
He said that pine needles are coming in large quantities from districts such as Jajarkot, Salyan, Dailekh and Rukum and that pine needles collected in large quantities in those districts will now be exported.
On the other hand, herbalists in Banke have been demanding that the tax be reduced as the government has imposed a 100 percent tax on the export of pine needles.
