Iranian team to inspect mango treatment plants

Iran plans to dispatch a delegation of two people to Pakistan to check recently built hot-water treatment plants used for mango consignments, according to Dawn. A successful visit could lead to clearance of additional facilities, offering a route for Pakistan to rebuild shipments to a traditional regional buyer.

Following months of written exchanges between Iranian authorities and the Department of Plant Protection, the trip is expected soon, with the Ministry of National Food Security and Research also pushing to revive the inspection system. A senior ministry official attributed the postponement to the continuing conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran, while saying the upgraded plant should be running before the next mango season starts.

Exporters have seen shipments to Iran drop steeply, and industry sources put this year's volume at around 30,000 tonnes against more than 60,000 tonnes in earlier seasons. Exporters argue that additional approved plants would add capacity and reduce reliance on a few existing units, but Abdul Waheed, chairman of the Fruits and Vegetables Exporters Association, warned that any interception of consignments or lapse in phytosanitary compliance could damage trust in the country's export-control framework.