RP mango exporters must comply with Japan’s new rules on chemical residues

Exporters of fresh mangoes should ensure compliance with Japan’s standard maximum residue limit (MRL) for the chemical cypermethrine.

Philippine agriculture attaché to Japan Joseph Sison said that Cypermethrine is among toxic chemicals that could be banned as the Japanese health authorities are set to impose new and tougher food safety standards by Japan’s Food Safety Commission (FSC) which sets new MRLs for imported fresh agricultural produce.

"Philippine mango producers should take this matter seriously or they could face an outright ban of their products in the same manner that the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry (MAFF) banned mangoes exceeding the MRL set for the pesticide chlorypyrifus," said Sison.

Earlier this year, Japanese health authorities banned a number of fresh mango shipments from the Philippines after quarantine inspectors discovered these shipments exceeded the MRL for Chlorypyrifus.

Sison said the new MRL for cypermethrine is just as stringent as the chlorypyrifus MRL of 0.5 parts per million (ppm), from .5 ppm.

An initial positive list of MRLs for more than 700 compounds prepared by the FSC and Japan’s Ministry of Health Labor and Welfare will be revealed to the World Trade Organization (WTO) by 2006.

Currently, Japan follows Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) international residue standards if it does not have an MRL established for a particular chemical. If CAC does not specify a residue limit on a chemical, Japan usually defers to US standards.

Cypermethrine, like chlorpyrifos, is a restricted pesticide which is also used as a termicide. Its improper use is known to cause cholinesterase inhibition in humans. It can overstimulate the nervous system causing nausea, dizziness, confusion, and at high exposures, respiratory paralysis, and death.

In the Philippines, chlorpyrifos is contained in pesticide brands such as Blink, Siga, Fradon, Perfect, Predator and Propan. Mango growers use this in the fruiting stage to prevent insect infestation that could damage the crop.

Japan has eased its inspection procedures for Philippine mango as the country’s major exporters complied with the MRL for chlorpyrifos.

The Bureau of Plant Industry led the creation of formulation of pesticide residue management manual to check and monitor pesticide residue on mango fruit export and ensure compliance with the prescribed MRL.

Aside from tips on preventing high pesticide residue, the manual also contains information needed to trace the flow of mango from the farm down to the exporter.

The exporter and farm owner implement the program activities stated in the manual while the BPI monitors its implementation.

With mango exporters complying with the prescribed MRL, Japan waived the 100 percent inspection requirement for mango products from the Philippines.

Along with the MRL compliance by mango exporters Japan has reverted to the standard investigation procedures on the condition that each shipment should be accompanied by a certificate of inspection and analysis from the government and only the registered exporter can ship their exports to Japan.

Japan is the country’s biggest buyer of fresh mango and processed mango products.