Chinese mainland suspends entry of Taiwan mangoes

The General Administration of Customs announced Monday it has decided to suspend entry of mangoes from the Taiwan region starting August 21.

Recently, customs on the Chinese mainland have detected Planococcus minor, a quarantine pest, in mangoes from Taiwan, according to the administration's department of animal and plant quarantine.

To prevent the risk of a plant epidemic, customs offices will suspend the acceptance of customs declaration of mangoes from Taiwan starting from Monday, and notify relevant enterprises within their jurisdiction of the situation in a timely manner, said the administration.

In accordance with relevant laws, regulations and standards on the mainland, the decision by the General Administration of Customs was taken as a scientific and reasonable biosecurity precaution, said Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council on Monday.

The mainland had informed the Taiwan side of the decision, Zhu said, adding that Taiwan is urged to further improve its phytosanitary quarantine management system.