Japanese authorities have lifted a temporary ban on Australian mango imports after an insect larvae that sparked a quarantine scare last week was determined to be harmless.
The larvae was discovered in Brisbane last week, in fruit supposedly already put through the vapour heat treatment (VHT) designed to kill such pests.
The ban was lifted last night, according to industry sources, and Australian exports are expected to restart immediately from all but the VHT plant at the centre of the scare.
“Trade can commence from all the other VHT units,” said Trevor Dunmall, industry development officer for peak body the Australian Mango Industry Association.
“The plant where the insect was found is still under investigation to discover how it got through, I believe. Apparently it was a vinegar fly, which isn’t a pest of concern,” he told Fruitnet.com.
Growers and exporters are understandably relieved – Japan is a solid market for Australia’s premium mangoes, which can sell for up to US$100 per fruit. Sales are expected to spike during Chinese New Year celebrations.
“It’s relieving that the market has been reopened,” Mareeba Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association president Joe Moro told the ABC.
“I think the growers of the Mareeba area are definitely going to be happy about it - they were looking at laying off people so this is only a small shut down and probably didn't really affect them.”
