USDA eyes more mango shipments from PH

A unit of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants to allow shipments of fresh Philippine mangoes from areas other than Guimaras. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—A unit of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants to allow shipments of fresh Philippine mangoes from areas other than Guimaras.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (Aphis) of the USDA has proposed to amend a list of areas in the Philippines determined to be free of mango seed weevil and mango pulp weevil.

Currently, Guimaras is the only mango-producing area in the Philippines that US authorities recognize as free of pests. As a result, mangoes from Guimaras may be sold anywhere in the United States.

“These actions are necessary because surveys have determined that additional areas within the Philippines are free of mango seed weevil and mango pulp weevil,” the Aphis said in its proposal.

According to Aphis, it has reviewed and approved the survey protocols and other information provided by the Philippines. As a result, the agency is now preparing to recognize the mango growing regions of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao as free of pests.