United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Commodity Import Evaluation Document (CIED)

Recognition of Mango Production Sites That are Free of Mango Seed 

Weevil, Sternochetus mangiferae and Mango Pulp Weevil, Sternochetus 

frigidus in the Philippines.

Country of origin: Philippines Date of request: 2006

Commodity: Mango Scientific name: Mangifera indica L.

Introduction: Mangoes from the island of Guimaras in the Philippines have been

exported to the United States since 2001. This market access followed an extensive 

survey conducted by Philippines in 1994, using a protocol developed by USDA. The 

1994 survey revealed the absence of the Mango Seed Weevil (MSW), Sternochetus 

mangiferae (Fabricius) and Mango Pulp Weevil (MPW), Sternochetus frigidus

(Fabricius) on the island of Guimaras, and the island was certified as being free from the 

two weevils. In 2006, Philippines initiated a survey in all mango growing areas of the 

country to detect the presence/absence of MSW and MPW. The survey protocol was 

approved by USDA as per International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) International 

Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) 4 (IPPC, 1996). This national survey was 

conducted from 2006 through 2009, in 16 regions and 79 mango growing provinces. A 

nationwide low monitoring survey that identified high and low risk areas, based on set 

criteria, was initiated in 2010 and continued through 2011. This survey will be continued 

on a yearly basis. The results of these surveys were sent to APHIS following which 

APHIS conducted a site visit to confirm the results. The results of the surveys confirm 

that most of the Philippines are free of these weevils, except for the island of Palawan

where only the MPW is present. Biosecurity Australia in a notification dated August 13, 

2010, (Biosecurity, 2010), has also permitted the extension of its existing policy by

including the importation of mango fruit from the Philippines with the inclusion of the 

province of Davao del Sur, Mindanao Island.

Current Requirements for mango exports to the United States:

APHIS currently requires the following measures for the importation of mangos from 

Philippines to ensure phytosanitary security. 
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(a) Limitation of origin. The mangoes must have been grown on the island of Guimaras, 

which the Administrator has determined meets the criteria set forth in 7 CFR § 319.56-5

with regard to the mango seed weevil (Sternochetus mangiferae). Mangoes from all other 

areas of the Philippines except Palawan are eligible for importation into Hawaii and 

Guam only. Mangoes from Palawan are not eligible for importation into the United 

States.

(b) Treatment. The mangoes must be treated for fruit flies of the genus Bactrocera with 

vapor heat under the supervision of an inspector in accordance with the regulations in 7 

CFR § 305.8.

(c) Inspection. Mangoes from the Philippines are subject to inspection under the 

direction of an inspector, either in the Philippines or at the port of first arrival in the 

United States. Mangoes inspected in the Philippines are subject to reinspection at the port 

of first arrival in the United States as provided in 7 CFR § 319.56-3.

(d) Labeling. Each box of mangoes must be clearly labeled in accordance with 7 CFR § 

319.56-5(e)(1). Consignments originating from approved areas other than Guimaras must 

be labeled “For distribution in Guam and Hawaii only.”

(e) Phytosanitary certificate. Mangoes originating from all approved areas must be 

accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the Republic of the Philippines,

Department of Agriculture that contains an additional declaration stating that the 

mangoes have been treated for fruit flies of the genus Bactrocera in accordance with 

paragraph (b) of this section. Phytosanitary certificates accompanying consignments of 

mangoes originating from the island of Guimaras must also contain an additional 

declaration stating that the mangoes were grown on the island of Guimaras.

(f) Trust fund agreement. Mangoes that are treated or inspected in the Philippines may

be imported into the United States only if the Republic of the Philippines Department of 

Agriculture has entered into a trust fund agreement with APHIS in accordance with 7 

CFR § 319.56-6.

Expansion of areas free of Mango Seed Weevil and Mango Pulp Weevil in the 

Philippines: In 2006, the Philippine National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO)

proposed a large survey to determine if additional mango production areas (other than the 

island of Guimaras) are infested with Sternochaetus spp. The survey was designed to be a 

three-year survey and targeted a different island each year. As per the documentation 

provided by Philippines (BPI, 2009), during the survey a total of 2.6 million mango fruits 

were dissected and no weevils of either species were found. The data from the survey

covered the main mango growing areas of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, which cover 16 

regions and 79 mango provinces except Palawan, where the MPW is present. Philippines 

has also initiated a low monitoring survey from March 2010, and this is an ongoing 

survey to confirm and verify the validity of the pest free status in mango areas of Luzon, 

Visayas and Mindanao.

Confirmation of weevil free areas:

A site visit was conducted by APHIS personnel in November 2011 to:
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1. Examine, by visits to sampling sites in mango orchards, to assess evidence of the 

absence of the MSW and MPW in different locations throughout the Philippines. 

2. Verify and assess conditions at land and sea entry points and internal check points 

enforcing the quarantine regulations that prevent movement of mango fruit.

3. Visit vapor heat treatment facilities in mango growing regions of Philippines. 

The following information was gathered during the site visit (USDA, 2011):

 Most of the islands which are accessible by sea only, have plant quarantine (PQ)

personnel to meet the passengers at the pier and there is an obligatory baggage 

check to prevent entry of mango fruit and mango propagative material.

 In Mindanao, a mandatory road checkpoint is manned with PQ officials and 

soldiers to enforce the ban on mangoes and mango planting materials being 

brought in to the province of Davao del sur. Signs in English direct the public to 

stop all vehicles for mandatory inspection.

 Guimaras Island, off Iloilo city, which currently is the only island allowed to ship 

mangoes to the United States, has very restrictive entry requirements for 

passengers with prominent signs prohibiting mangos, seeds and planting materials 

from entering the island.

 In ports considered as a high risk based on their proximity to MPW-infested areas 

(Palawan) and the large volume movement of agricultural commodities and 

travelers at sea or airports, mandatory baggage inspection by X-ray is conducted.

 The Bureau of Plant Industry, Plant Quarantine Order No. 20 placed the island 

province of Palawan under quarantine from 1987 up to the present, preventing the 

movement of mango fruits and other parts from Palawan due to the presence of 

the Mango pulp weevil.

The mango growing areas surveyed in the Philippines in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao 

(except Palawan) meet all APHIS requirements for recognition of a pest free area for the 

MSW, Sternochetus mangiferae and MPW, Sternochetus frigidus. Palawan meets the 

requirements for recognition of a pest-free area for the MSW, but not the MPW.

Summary:

Based on review of the survey data, other information and the findings of the November

2011 site visit APHIS has concluded that mango growing areas in Luzon, Visayas and 

Mindanao in Philippines are free of MSW and MPW, and that the mango growing areas 

in Palawan are free of the MSW. Further, based on the findings of the site visit and the 

mitigation measures currently in place, we propose to include the following additional 

areas in Philippines under the streamlined importation process, 7 CFR 319.5 that APHIS 

has recognized free from MSW, Sternochetus mangiferae and MPW, Sternochetus 

frigidus mango growing areas in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. We also propose to 

recognize Palawan as free of MSW. This change will allow the importation of fresh 

mangos from the additional mango weevils pest free areas in Philippines after treatment 
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for fruit flies of the genus Bactrocera and, in the case of Palawan, treatment for the 

MPW. 

References:

1. IPPC. 1996. ISPM 4. Requirements for the establishment of pest free areas. FAO, 

Rome. 16 pp.

2. Biosecurity, 2010. http://www.daff.gov.au/ba/ira/final-plant/mangoesphillippines/baa_2010-23_extension_of_policy - 25k - [ html ] - Accessed June 

2012.

3. BPI, 2009. National Survey of the Mango Seed Weevil and

Mango Pulp Weevil in the Philippines, pp 44.

4. USDA, APHIS, PPQ, 2011. Philippines Trip Report. 6 pp.

Recommendations:

Include the following additional areas in Philippines under the streamlined importation 

process, 7 CFR § 319.5 that APHIS has recognized free from MSW, Sternochetus 

mangiferae and MPW, Sternochetus frigidus: mango growing areas in Luzon, Visayas 

and Mindanao. Include the following area as an area that APHIS has recognized free 

from MSW only: Palawan.

________________________________________________________________________

___ APPROVED

_____ DISAPPROVED

____Devaiah A. Muruvanda____________ __October 4, 2012_______

Signature (name) Date