Pulse fumigation will be top of mind for Canada's top agriculture officials during a trade mission this week to India.

Pulse Canada CEO Gordon Bacon will be one of those on the trip, along with Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay.

India has decided to not renew an exemption that currently allows Canadian pulses to be fumigated once they reach India.

Bacon says the move by India will have many adverse effects.

“Everybody understands and accepts that countries like Canada or India all have to protect their plants and commercial crop production but it has to be based on science-based assessments of risk,” he commented. “We don't feel that we have an issue.”

Bacon notes that the Canadian grain system does not pose any risk to India.

He adds shipments to India are already being affected as they would not reach India until after the March 31 deadline.

Bacon notes that India is Canada's biggest market for pulse exports.