Mango exports: Stakeholders seek lenient SOPs

Exporters are required to use hot water treatment on mangoes to limit any instances of fruit flies being detected.

ISLAMABAD: Stakeholders on Thursday asked the authorities to introduce a more lenient Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in order to achieve mango export targets. In addition to pre-shipment inspection by an approved third party, the exporters are now required to use hot water treatment on their mangoes to limit any instances of fruit flies being detected, Harvest Tradings Director Ahmad Jawad said in a statement. He said there is one approved common facility in Sindh that was established through a joint venture of Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC) under grant of the Export Development Fund (EDF), which reportedly charges a hefty Rs20 per kg for treatment. Jawad said he believed these new requirements could lead to various mango growers stopping their exports all together. He asked the authorities to establish more lenient standard operating procedures.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2014.

Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.