Managing trade risks arising from the use of crop protection chemicals in horticultural crops in the Philippines and Australia

HORT/2006/111: Managing trade risks arising from the use of crop protection chemicals in horticultural crops in the Philippines and Australia

Philippines

AKC Consulting Pty Ltd, Australia

Dr Kevin Bodnaruk
Phone: 02 9499 3833
Fax: 02 9499 6055
Email: ak_con@zip.com.au

• Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development, Philippines
• University of the Philippines at Los Banos, Philippines

$80,025

31/05/2007 - 01/06/2008

Mr Les Baxter

The Philippines is the world's sixth largest mango-producing country, and as an exporter it relies on maintaining access to markets to sustain economic viability and development. Japan, a significant export market for the Philippines, recently implemented a new 'positive list' MRL (maximum residue limit) system, i.e., a detectable pesticide must have a MRL set domestically as a government standard and at the international level by the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues. Increasing levels of residue monitoring have led to a reported five-fold increase in MRL breaches for food commodities imported into Japan (e.g. in 2005 there were a total of 72 breaches detected, but by 2006 the number had climbed to over 110 for the first quarter following the launch of the new MRL system). The focus of this project was to assess the capacity of the Philippine mango industry to respond to the challenges posed by the increasing scrutiny and regulatory change in export markets. This involved assessments of analytical and technical capacity and a residue risk assessment (i.e., gap analysis with regard to standards in importing countries). Other tasks included an evaluation of current regulatory mechanisms with respect to gaining pesticide access, a review of current pest management systems, an examination of current quality control procedures and an attempt to identify what linkages currently exist between the various sectors.

When food commodities are traded between countries these foods are understood to be safe for human consumption and any residues in or on the traded food must comply with the importing countries' or the Codex limit. Unfortunately, as MRLs can vary between countries, compliance in the exporting country does not guarantee international compliance. These MRL disparities can result in inadvertent breaches occurring, with potentially significant consequences e.g., loss of market access. This can have serious implications for both the grower and the exporter in the developing country.

With the above matters in mind, this study was carried out with the aim of benefiting export industries in the Philippines. The project team analysed the mango export chain in the Philippines, assessing how current practices may be constraining effective residue risk management. It also focused on the capacity of the local industry to respond to the challenges posed by increasing scrutiny and regulatory change. This final report outlines a potential framework for the development of strategies to meet these challenges, and identifies how future research could be targeted to address constraints.