For the first time in recent history, Britain is eyeing markets in India and Thailand to open up export channels for English apples.

However, during initial enquiries the U.K. government and the organization English Apples and Pears Ltd have discovered there are bans in place with both countries currently prohibiting imports of the fruit from Britain.

"This came as a total surprise to us," Adrian Barlow of English Apples and Pears, told www.freshfruitportal.com.

"In relation to India and Thailand it has transpired that currently there are bans in place on the export of English apples to those countries. Now, we don't know why and are trying to find out."

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is now talking with the authorities in both countries to unearth the details of the bans in a bid to overturn them and open official exports of English apple varieties in the future.

"Defra informed me of another incident concerning entirely different produce where there had been a ban on the import in Japan from Britain because there had been a report, which was entirely erroneous and written in 1941 that suggested Britain had a massive pest problem," Barlow said.

"I'm speculating but these bans (Thailand and India) could be based on false information or there could be a much more serious reason.

"Once we get the correct information back, we will then be in a position to either point out that the underlying difficulties do not apply or alternatively make some adjustments that are sufficient to get the bans lifted."

English Apples and Pears is taking action now toward opening new export markets not because of an immediate need but to have the correct procedures in place for the future.

"We want to be able to have all the information, paperwork and channels in place for when the time comes to export to India and Thailand.

"We don't want to be left scratching around saying that we need to export our apples to X,Y and Z countries and we don’t know how to do it."

When asked Defra directly about the ban, a department spokesman sent a statement that did not mention an actual ban but instead focused on the standard practices associated with opening new export channels.

"We are expanding our trade in apples. We recently started exporting to Hong Kong and are now looking to open other new markets, including India and Thailand," the statement said.

"As is standard practice, before any new trade can begin it must be shown the produce meets the destination country's import requirements. We are making contact with our counterparts in India and Thailand on this issue."

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