Japan allows import of mangoes from Pakistan.

Byline: Amin Ahmed

ISLAMABAD -- The Japanese government on Monday temporarily allowed import of mangoes from Pakistan.

According to the Ministry of National Food Security and ReseAarch, exporters despatched three shipments of local mango varieties 'Sindhri' and 'Chaunsa' to Japan as per agreed procedures between the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) and the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).

Normally, the Japanese government sends its inspectors to Pakistan and other mango exporting countries for quality check and clearance before allowing imports into Japan.

However, this year, the Japanese government could not send inspectors due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2019, mango exports to Japan rose to a record high of 120 tonnes and were favourably received in the Japanese market.

A press release of the Japanese embassy on Monday said that Japan will continue to support Pakistan in the agricultural field such as taking measures against locust control, expanding export of agricultural products, and investment in the food processing sector.

The MAFF has granted market access to fresh Pakistani mangoes but its import in Japan is subject to offshore disinfestation treatment and sterilisation using saturated steam at vapour heat treatment facility duly approved by the DPP and MAFF and pre-clearance programme by Japanese inspectors.

Japan's Ambassador to Pakistan Matsuda Kuninori held a meeting with Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhr Imam on Monday and admired the quality of Pakistani mangoes.

Imam also showed interest in increasing export of Pakistani basmati rice to Japan.

Minister Imam appreciated the MAFF for facilitating mango exports from Pakistan by exempting...