Mexican customs officials discover the shipment was contaminated by a tiny beetle that destroys grain products. PHOTO: CREATIVE COMMON
A customs official in the Gulf of Mexico port city of Veracruz said the Khapra beetle, or Trogoderma granarium, was found during the inspection of 120 containers from Pakistan.
The shipment is in quarantine while authorities decide whether to destroy the rice or return it to Pakistan, the president of the Veracruz customs agent union, Anibal Arturo Rosas Reyes, told AFP.
Officials have been instructed to ensure that "every rice container from Pakistan be inspected" to protect Mexican crops from the risk of contamination, he added.
The brown beetle, which is between two and three millimeters long, is a destructive pest that feeds on grains and cereal products.
Mexico imports 70 percent of the 100,000 tonnes of rice it consumes per year.
COMMENTS (17)
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Err... Is it halal?
For all that declare so proudly "ban all Pakistani exports". What you are saying is Pakistan should not get any foreign exchange which it uses for buying oil, petrol etc. So in effect there will be no petrol or diesel and farmers will have to resort to using cows/oxen driving prices higher as labor costs go up. Honestly do you people every stop and think what you are saying or just open your mouth and hope something intelligent comes out?
If Pakistani rice has it then it means that Pakistan has it too. What is the government doing for pest control within Pakistan. Plus Pakistan has the 7th largest uncultivated land in the world.
Good. All countries should ban eatable products from Pakistan. It will make Abaundant of eatable products in Pakistani markets, will be available in lower rates, Äfforidable and in the reach of Pakistanis. Than no one will be sleep hungry
@Tahir Ali: Tahir ! one condition, which everyone KNOWS, that rice has to be packed properly thoroughly fumigated and rest for 24 hours, before being sent for documentation. In Paki case, they"FUMIGATE" with wood smoke. That FUMIGATION does not stand any chance because humidity and heat create these INSECTS. This all because exporter is one of those who has one experience, how to bribe and with right money, you can buy anyone in Pakistan..
@sm: "must have been a hidden hand in there as well" Including foot and legs too :-)
The mexican style for discount payments, a normalcy for supplies going into the country.
Rex Minor
1 thing.....we cant manage even 1 single thing right with the whole world.
I think India is behind this to defame pakistan.........These must be Indian beatels...............
Two questions: 1) Was this rice fumigated. 2) Where were the inspection agencies like SGS etc who inspect export shipments
Good now this contaminated rice will be returned to Pakistan and it will be sold to COMMON MAN in Pakistan .... Authorities will make handsome profits no matter how much contaminated it is....
@ss: Yeah, that's whey we see Beatles likes bands being formed every 2nd day in Pakistan.
Beetles are a good source of proteins.
God know how many beetles we have eaten with Rice in Pakistan :-/
Another failure by PTI.
Thanks god stop all the Pakistani products across the globe from being exported, this is the only way which automatically reduce the price hike here in Pakistan.
must have been a hidden hand in there as well.