Chinese mainland suspends mango imports from Taiwan

Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office. [Photo/people.com.cn]

The General Administration of Customs' decision to suspend mango imports from Taiwan to the mainland is a legal, scientific and standard biosecurity precaution, a spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said on Monday.

Mainland customs have discovered passionvine mealybugs, a harmful insect, in mangoes imported from Taiwan this year. The mealybugs pose a major threat to the mainland's agricultural production and ecological security, Zhu Fenglian said.

The discovery led the GAC to suspend mango imports from Taiwan indefinitely, starting from Monday.

The administration has notified Taiwan of the suspension through channels established under the cross-Strait agricultural product quarantine and inspection cooperation agreement, which was signed in December 2009, and requested the island to further improve its plant quarantine management system, Zhu said.

The measures are normal, scientific and reasonable biosecurity precautions and in line with the mainland's laws, regulations and standards, she said.