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Canberra to allow fresh mango imports from Davao del Sur


Prompted by lack of fresh mango supply from Guimaras, Australia has opened its doors to fresh mango imports from Davao del Sur come September. In a statement, the Plant Bureau said Biosecurity Australia has extended the extent of mango sourcing from Guimaras to Davao del Sur. An advisory was issued by Canberra on August 13. "Starting next month, mango producers from Davao del Sur can already start exporting their produce to Australia provided that quarantine procedures are complied with," said Plant Bureau Director Clarito M. Barron in a telephone interview. Members of Australia Biosecurity Services Group (BSG) will inspect the mango production areas in Davao del Sur to audit operational procedures, treatment facilities, and area freedom protocols prior to the first shipment next month. Among the quarantine measures recommended by Biosecurity Australia were the recognition and maintenance of pest-free areas, pre-export phytosanitary certification by the Olant Bureau – and on-arrival inspection by BSG – pre-export vapor heat treatment, and operational systems to maintain and verify phytosanitary status. Barron noted that since the bulk of Guimaras mangoes goes to the United States, "whatever is left for Australia is not enough for their consumption." Fresh mango exports to Australia are a token shipment, Barron said refusing to cite figures. He said that Dole Philippines, which operates a mango plantation and a processing facility in Davao del Sur, could initially provide Canberra with a sizable volume. Australia funded a survey of mango-growing areas in Davao del Sur from Sept. 2006 to June 2007. The Plant Bureau noted that Australian representatives used 181,000 fruit samples. An ongoing survey of mango-producing areas in Saranggani province starting two years ago would be concluded in 2013. Australia has existing import policy for mangoes from the country, which only allows the entry of fruits from Guimaras island. Philippine mango exports are shipped to US, Asian, and European markets, with Japan and Hong Kong – the gateway to mainland China – absorbing nearly 90 percent of Philippine mango exports. —VS, GMANews.TV

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