Given the recent changes to the European regulations on combating the introduction of harmful organisms into EU territory, it seems timely to conduct a brief review of the West African exporter countries on the eve of the 2020 campaign.
In 2019 West Africa had a bumper campaign, with estimated exports of more than 49 000 tonnes (besides Senegal), as opposed to 44 600 tonnes the previous year.
Although these quantitative results are flattering, and attest to the vitality of the West African mango industries, they must not conceal the recurrent problems experienced by these origins, especially in the phytosanitary field. True, improvements have been made in recent years to manage fruit fly infestations, and the number of interceptions on the EU’s borders has decreased. While interceptions are no longer numbering 30 to 60 for some countries, as was previously the case, the problem remains, and is undermining exports from these origins in the long term.
This problem is currently resuscitating because of the new phytosanitary measures taken by the European Union. Supplier countries have little leeway in meeting these requirements:
Less than three months from the start of the campaign, we can ask whether the operators from these origins are properly prepared for this new challenge, bearing in mind that the entire West African mango area is under heavy parasite pressure. Besides deploying on the crop means of management which remain haphazard, the final item in the regulations summarised above seems best suited for the West African origins. The USA has long demanded post-harvest treatments for imported mangos. Is this the solution of the future, and what would be the consequences on fruit quality and keeping?
western africa mango - EU - imports
mango - western africa - interceptions
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