Australian biosecurity officials have granted access to Philippine mangoes from the Davao del Sur area, an extension of the existing access from Guimaras Island.
The extension to the existing mango access arrangement was requested by the Philippine Department of Agriculture via the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) three years ago, and granted following a survey of the region’s production facilities.
According to a Biosecurity Australia report, the protocol for access will include recognition and maintenance of pest-free areas, pre-export certification by the BPI and on-arrival inspection by Australia’s Biosecurity Services Group (BSG), as well as pre-export vapour heat treatment (VHT).
Before access is granted, the BSG will also conduct an audit of Davao del Sur’s growing areas to check operational procedures, treatment facilities and area freedom protocols, the Biosecurity Australia report said.
“By September, fresh mango producers from Davao del Sur can already start exporting their produce to Australia provided that quarantine procedures are complied with,” BPI director Dr Clarito Barron told the Business Mirror.
Dr Barron said Australian importers could initially source mangoes from companies such as Dole, which has a mango plantation and processing facility in Davao del Sur.
Japan and Hong Kong account for about 90 per cent of the Philippines’ mango export volumes, and the fruit is also sold in the US and Europe.
