The import of Pakistani mandarins to Uzbekistan has been halted after authorities discovered fake certificates and detected a pest in one shipment. The Agency for Plant Quarantine and Protection clarified the situation.
A recent batch of mandarins imported through the "Airy-Tom" customs checkpoint contained a pest identified as the "red citrus scale". Samples were examined at the Central Phytosanitary Laboratory, confirming the presence of the harmful organism.
When the Uzbek agency contacted their counterparts in Pakistan for an explanation, the response was unexpected: no phytosanitary certificates for mandarin exports to Uzbekistan were issued in December. Verification through Pakistan's electronic system confirmed the certificates were counterfeit.
To prevent similar incidents, the inspection of certificates will now be conducted directly at border checkpoints using the automated "E-Fitouz" information system. Imports will only be allowed after confirming the certificate's validity in Pakistan's electronic database.
The agency urged businesses to collaborate with reliable foreign companies when importing citrus fruits, berries, and other produce. Meanwhile, the issuance of import and quarantine permits for Pakistani mandarins has been temporarily suspended.
Source: nova24.uz