New Delhi, May 28 -- The United States Food and Drug Administration has issued an import alert effectively banning the sale of dinnerware made from areca palm leaf sheaths, dealing a significant blow to India's eco-friendly foodware export sector.

The FDA's Import Alert 23-15 classifies areca-based bowls, plates, cups and cutlery as unsafe food additives under Section 409 of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, declaring that such products may not lawfully be offered for sale in the USA.

The Federation of Indian Export Organisations has confirmed that similar restrictions are also in place in Canada and Australia.

According to FDA research, toxic alkaloids with cytotoxic and carcinogenic properties can migrate from the dinnerware i...