THE export market of Philippine pineapples and mangoes in the United States of America (USA) will be expanded to benefit more Americans, Filipinos and other citizens as well.

This came after the Philippine Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) and the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) has agreed during a recent virtual meeting for the additional ports of entry in the USA for the country’s pineapple and mangoes.

During the virtual meeting , the Philippine panel was led by BPI assistant director for regulatory services, Ariel Bayot, together with DA agriculture counselor to the USA and Americas, Dr. Maria Araceli Escandor, and Dayanara Lausa, desk officer for the Americas at the DA international affairs division.

Deputy Director Matthew Messenge, of the USDA-APHIS PPQ-Phytosanitary Issued Management Unit, on the other hand, led the US delegation.

DA Secretary William Dar said that the expansion of export market of said local products in the US and other countries will not only enhance the country’s economy, but more importantly, provide increased incomes to thousands of farmers and their families in pineapple- and mango-producing provinces nationwide.

“Further, it is a realization of one of the key strategies under our ‘OneDA Reform Agenda’ to transform Philippine agriculture, that is, ‘Global Trade, Export Development and Promotion,’ with focus on high-value crops,” Dar stressed.

“On behalf of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Filipino farmers, we, therefore, thank the officials of the USDA-APHIS and our DA-BPI for mutually resolving issues that would further increase trade between our two countries,” Dar added.

Dar explained that with the agreement, the Philippines could dramatically increase exports of pineapples and resume shipments of mangoes to the US via additional ports of entry.

According to the BPI, currently, the local fresh pineapples reach the US through Guam, Commonwealth of Marianas Island, and North Atlantic regions. From 2013 to July 15, 2021, exports amounted to only 346,190 kilograms (kg).

The BPI added that the country previously exported fresh mangoes to the US, from 2005 to 2008, totaling 386,099 kg, all produced in Guimaras Island.

In a report to Dar, through BPI Director George Culaste, Joselito Antioquia, OIC-chief of the BPI National Plant Quarantine Services Division, said the USDA-APHIS has accepted the evidence that the “Smooth Cayenne” — the Philippines’ main export pineapple variety — is not a host to the oriental fruit fly.

The fruit pest, known scientifically as Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), is very destructive and often finds its way into the US, sometimes triggering wide-scale eradication programs.

APHIS is the main US agency responsible for protecting animal health, animal welfare, and plant health. It is also the lead agency for collaboration with other agencies to protect US agriculture from invasive pests and diseases.

Antioquia said APHIS will provide BPI the risk mitigation measures for oriental fruit fly.

After the BPI agrees on the measures, APHIS will publish the initial notice in the Federal Register for a 60-day stakeholder comment period, review any comments, and then publish the final notice that allows the expanded market access for Philippine pineapples into the US, except Hawaii.

Antioquia added that the Philippines may start shipping pineapples to various US markets before yearend.

The USDA-APHIS also agreed to draft an operational work plan (OWP) for irradiation of Philippine fresh mangoes upon arrival in the US. The BPI will provide APHIS official comments on the OWP.

Irradiation is a phytosanitary treatment that uses ionizing radiation to prevent the introduction or spread of regulated pests by achieving either mortality, preventing successful development like non-emergence of adults, sterility or inactivation. Irradiation of mangoes upon arrival in the US is an option offered by the USDA in response to the request of the Philippines to remove pre-clearance inspection.