Pakistan stops three mango consignments to Norway

September 03, 2025 (MLN): In collaboration with Pakistan Customs, the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) intercepted three mango consignments totaling 6.2 metric tons, valued at $ 25,649 and destined for Norway, at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, on May 25, 2025, after detecting blatant non-compliance with mandatory EU phytosanitary protocols.

The action, part of Pakistan’s reinforced commitment to strict Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) regulations, underscores efforts to safeguard agricultural exports and maintain credibility in global markets.

Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, emphasized that adherence to SPS standards is a lifeline of the export system, ensuring food safety, public health, and ecosystem biosecurity.

On the Minister’s directions, DPP has implemented reforms across rice, maize, citrus, and mango sectors.

For the 2025 mango season, measures include staff deployment at exit points, engagement of reputed PSI firms, installation of CCTV cameras, back-end monitoring, mandatory punching of vehicle numbers on phytosanitary certificates, photographic proof of staff with consignments, and reshuffling of personnel to curb malpractice.

The confiscated consignments belonged to exporters Pak Punjab International, Sajjad & Co., and Kamran Enterprises, who attempted to bypass critical requirements such as Hot Water Treatment (HWT), sourcing from registered orchards, pesticide residue analysis, and proper HS code declaration.

Customs imposed penalties, while DPP barred the violators from future exports for a specified period.

The Minister condemned the violation, warning that such acts endanger Pakistan’s entire export access to Europe.

Owing to strict enforcement and reforms, however, Pakistan has successfully exported around 120,000 metric tons of mangoes so far in 2025 without any global rejections or interceptions.

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