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Friday, August 18, 2006
Mango confab tackles new rules on exports
A NEW development on phyto-sanitary issue has been raised with countries where Philippine fruits are marketed particularly in the United States.
Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban told mango producers in Mindanao that the USDA-APHIS has published the proposed amendments to the rules, which govern mango exports to the US.
The information was relayed to the participants of the 3rd Mango Marketing Conference held in Davao City on August 15 to 17, 2006.
Panganiban said it includes policy of allowing mango exports from all other areas in the Philippines except Palawan, but only to Hawaii and Guam.
But he said that after detecting high levels of Chlorpyrigos on mangoes, the Japanese Quarantine Office now subjects all mango exports to Japan to mandatory chemical analysis aside from vapor heat treatment and inspection by Japanese agriculture personnel whose expenses shall be borne by exporters.
Ednar Carlos G. Dayanghirang, president of Davao Region Mango Contractors Association (Daremca), said the region is pushing to increase mango exports to China and Korea markets primarily because of the proximity to the region and doable policies in terms of minimum residue level of chemicals that goes with the fruit.
Panganiban meanwhile said that they have requested Taiwan to resume their importation of Philippines mangoes and also asked Australia to allow entry of vapor heated Philippine mangoes coming from other areas in the country aside from Guimaras.
He said a major victory was won in the trade negotiations with China as it allows some of Mindanao's prime commodities into the Chinese markets at zero tariffs.
Mindanao exporters, he said, can now sell coconut, fresh fruits, carrageenan and fish to China without the usual tax on imports.
"We expect Australia, UK, Hongkong, Singapore and New Zealand to come up with similar zero import tariff schemes soon," Panganiban added.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (August 18, 2006 issue)
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