No immediate ban on mango exports

KARACHI: Despite three interceptions of mango consignments in this season, the European Union (EU) will not place an immediate ban on mango imports from Pakistan, said the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) in a release.

“The EU has relaxed the conditions,” stated the release, after the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR), Ministry of Commerce, DDP, Pakistan Fruit Vegetable Association (PFVA) and other stakeholders held negotiations with the EU via video link.

Last year, the EU banned import of Indian mangoes due to the large number of interceptions of infected consignments. At the same time, Pakistan, ranked second with 237 interceptions, was given a warning with a maximum limit of five interceptions to prevent the ban on its all agricultural commodities in the EU.

The limit of five interceptions will only be for the remaining season. Next year the count will start from zero and there shall be no ban on exports from Pakistan, added the DPP.

Furthermore, before placing restriction for any season, the EU will have a video conference with the DPP for negotiations and relaxation if required.

This year Pakistan had three interceptions due to presence of fruit flies in mango consignments, whereas India already crossed the limit of five interceptions. The other mango exporting countries like Burkino Faso, Cameroon, Cote D I’voire and Mali have hit 15, 10, 10 and 9, respectively.

DPP is one of the 14 organisations working under the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th, 2015.

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