KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica is to resume exporting mangoes to the United Kingdom this year after voluntarily suspending exports in 2014 when there was a spike in detentions due to pest contamination.

In a release from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries a short while ago, chief technical director in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Dermon Spence was quoted as saying that Jamaica would phase in mango exports to the UK by the end of the year.

Spence was speaking at a fresh produce forum organised by JAMPRO UK and the Fresh Produce Consortium in London, England earlier this week.

The forum brought sellers and regulators together for a better understanding of the UK’s phytosanitary requirements for plants and produce crossing its borders.

The UK regulators present at the forum commended Jamaica for the actions taken at the national level to improve the phytosanitary standards for mango exports.

Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries minister, Karl Samuda attended the forum to observe firsthand the exchanges between the regulators and buyers on the UK fresh produce market.

In closing the forum, Samuda noted that his ministry is moving towards global gap certification for access to additional markets in the UK.

“This is a necessary prerequisite to ensure that Jamaica can move from being considered a nation of samples to a nation of sustainable supply,” said Samuda.  

The minister also assured the UK buyers and regulators that under his watch, Jamaica was committed to improving its fresh and processed exports to the UK.