April 25, 2007	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 07, 1428

ISLAMABAD, April 24: Pakistan will have to wait for at least 18 months to formally start export of mangoes to United States because of legal delays on the part of Washington.

The US had recently allowed import of mangoes from both Pakistan and India, but it was linked with fulfillment of US quarantine requirements.

The US administration would make necessary laws and inspect irradiation facilities in Pakistan in this regard before allowing import of mango.

Talking to Dawn, secretary ministry of food agriculture and livestock Ismail Qureshi said the opening of the US market for mango export was a big achievement for Pakistan.

Asked that 18 months is a long period for framing laws, Mr Qureshi replied that it was the shortest possible time in case of Pakistan.

He said the US and Japan have tough quarantine requirements, which needed a bit longer period for negotiation.

He said officials from both sides are exchanging drafts and would soon come up with agreed procedures for quarantine.

The US has some tough quarantine rules and the American government would have to enact law for allowing Pakistani mangoes into their market. It is time-consuming process and might take up to one-and-a-half year, the secretary added.

A USDA team has already raised eight to 10 quality conditions during their recent visit to Pakistan.

Of these, Pakistani side only convinced them on two conditions, including irradiation plant at Lahore and hot water treatment plant at Karachi for fruit fly treatment.

According to a report of the horticulture export development board, to comply with the US sanitary and phyto-sanitary laws, the mango exporters were not fully prepared as irradiation plant had not been imported yet. Though the US is willing to open its market for Pakistani mangoes, exporters have to comply with the requirements of the USDA.

Pakistan’s total horticulture exports stood at $142 million —fruits at $117 million and vegetables at $25m — during 2005-06. Most of the export destinations were European, and Gulf States, but Pakistan wants to explore new markets, like the Eastern Europe, China, Canada, Africa and Australia, the report added.

The horticulture development export board has already developed a five-year strategy to enhance export of fruits, vegetables and flowers from present $142m to $500m by the year 2011-12.

According to the report, Pakistan is also focusing on implementing good agriculture practices at the farm level, develop HACCP-certified industry, organic certified farms and world class infrastructure by establishing cold storages, reefers, CFCs and agro zones to take a slice of these high price markets.