Minister of Agriculture Angel Estevez presented the ministry’s action plan for eradicating the Mediterranean fruit fly (also known as “medfly”) to the expanded Farming Cabinet yesterday, Wednesday 25 March 2015.
Medfly, which was detected at the Punta Cana International Airport last week, was notified to local and international authorities according to the established protocols, as reported in El Nuevo Diario.
The action plan includes installing traps using the latest technology with geo-reference, collecting fruits and pruning potential host trees. The local and international authorities certified that the techniques and the products used would eradicate the pest. Punta Cana airport is currently under strict sanitary quarantine.
Dominican Agribusiness Board (JAD) executive president Osmar Benitez told Listin Diario that according to international agreements, the country has the right to ask the United States to lift the ban on produce from areas that are not affected by Medfly. Benitez said that he would send a letter to the appropriate authorities outlining the procedures to follow in order for the country to avail itself of the principles established in the World Trade Organization’s “Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures” (MSF Agreement).
Meanwhile, Customs director Fernando Fernandez offered his department’s research lab for testing fruits, vegetables and other farm products that could be affected by the Mediterranean fruit fly. Inspectors at the national airports and ports are checking baggage of passengers arriving from South American and European countries where Medfly has been detected. They are seizing any fruits and vegetables for incineration. They are also fumigating aircraft landing at all international airports.