New Delhi, Nov. 28 -- India is working with the US, European Union, the UK, Singapore, Switzerland, and ASEAN bloc countries to mutually accept each other's inspection, testing and quality certification systems for farm produce in an attempt to ensure low-friction movement in such trade, two senior government officials told Mint.

The alignment of these systems under so-called Mutual Recognition Agreements, or MRAs, is expected to ensure agricultural goods enter foreign markets more smoothly and the high rate of rejections of Indian consignments over sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks reduce. Such checks are put in place by the importing country to prevent pests and disease entering its agriculture and farm sectors.

In September 202...