Namibia has banned the importation of mangoes suspected of carrying the oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) from neighbouring country, Zambia. This is according to the Namibian Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF) which also announced that imports from the north eastern Zambezi region bordering Zambia had temporarily been banned.
The Ministry said that the ban was designed to protect the country’s perishable export market as the oriental fruit fly is known for infesting fruit. “Any reasonable suspicion detected in a consignment of commodities being exported to Europe resulted in that market rejecting our products. For that reason, strict control measures against the movement of infected fruits within our borders will continuously be upheld,” the Ministry said. - Zoë van Rooyen
