China Customs Suspends Mango Imports From Taiwan

On Aug. 21, the Department of Animal and Plant Quarantine of the General Administration of Customs of China issued a notice stating that customs agents had detected passionvine mealybugs (Planococcus minor), a quarantine pest, in shipments of mangos from Taiwan. According to the notice, to avoid the risk of plant epidemics and in strict adherence to the relevant laws and standards, cross-strait mango imports will no longer be accepted with immediate effect.

Since March 2021, the GACC has successively halted imports of various agricultural products from Taiwan following the detection of quarantine pests and prohibited substances. These products include pineapples, wax apples and sugar apples, and citrus fruits, as well as some seafood items.

Prior to the import bans, over 90% of Taiwan’s pineapple, wax apple and sugar apple exports were destined for the mainland market, and these were also the top three fruit commodities in terms of cross-strait export volume. Alongside rising agricultural and labor costs, the bans have reportedly intensified the challenges faced by growers in Taiwan. Following negotiations between the two sides, however, cross-strait shipments of sugar apples from Taiwan were allowed to resume on June 20 of this year.

Regarding the recent suspension of mango exports, agricultural authorities in Taiwan have stated that the impact is expected to be minimal. Approximately 170,000 metric tons of mangos are expected to be produced in Taiwan this year, with the majority being consumed by the local market. Exports are anticipated to constitute only 2.2% of the total output, with the primary markets being Japan and South Korea. Moreover, this year’s mango harvest season in Taiwan is now nearing its conclusion. As of the end of July, only 938 metric tons of mangos from Taiwan had been shipped across the strait, accounting for just 0.5% of total production.

Image: Pixabay

This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article.