Mexico's Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fishing and Food (SAGARPA) has declared the country free of a certain Mediterranean fruit fly, in a development that is expected to ease trade restrictions and boost the produce industry.

The Ceratitis capitata Medfly

According to the organization's statement in the Diario Oficial de la Federación (DOF), the pest Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) is no longer present within Mexico's borders.

The declaration will positively impact on 1.8 million hectares of growing land for some key agricultural crops - including tomatoes, mangoes and avocados - with an annual production of 17.6 million metric tons (MT).

The total value of the affected produce is estimated to be around 86 billion pesos (US$6.4 billion).

SAGARPA said the fruit fly's eradication was a result of phytosanitary measures that had been in place for 35 years and the Mediterranean Fruit Fly Program carried out by the National Service for Agricultural Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA).

The Ceratitis capitata Medfly species is not native to Mexico, and has caused high levels of damage across the industry.

Countries that are known to have the pest are subject to severe restrictions, which can hinder international trade for more than 200 potential host fruits.

Photo: Wikimedia Creative Commons

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