KARACHI: The government has made hot water treatment compulsory for export of mango to European Union to ensure that consignments are free from fruit flies.

The quarantine department will inspect the hot water treatment facility in a Punjab and there would be a complete ban on export of mango to the EU without the said treatment.

This was decided in a meeting held between Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) with the Secretary, Ministry of National Food Security and Research.

Fruit exporters proposed measures to avoid possible new restrictions by the EU on Pakistan which were recently imposed on Indian fruits and vegetables.

Pakistan exports at least 24,000 tonnes of mangoes annually to the EU out of total mango exports of 150,000 tonnes to various countries.

The share in EU market is negligible, but access to the lucrative market is also needed to contain shares in other markets of the developed world.

The meeting with stakeholders was aimed at improving quality and standard of fruits and vegetables in the country through research and development while making short and long term policies for redressal of issues related to exports.

The members of PFVA, led by its spokesman and former chairman Waheed Ahmed, suggested that there was also a need to find an alternative solution as many exporters did not have hot water treatment facility.

Waheed said that the treatment facility in Karachi be used effectively besides at least 50pc reduction in charges of the treatment through subsidy is also needed.