Hipólito Mejía calls for review of phytosanitary controls after U.S. mango export suspension

Santo Domingo.- Former President Hipólito Mejía said the suspension of Dominican mango exports to the United States following the detection of the Mediterranean fruit fly may reflect shortcomings in the country’s phytosanitary surveillance system.

Mejía said the appearance of the pest suggests that plant health controls should be reviewed to determine whether there were failures in the mechanisms designed to prevent such outbreaks. However, he noted that the Mediterranean fruit fly is not unique to the Dominican Republic and is present in other countries, urging authorities to focus on containing the outbreak and minimizing its impact on mango production and exports.

Separately, the former president denied promoting his son-in-law, Juan Garrigó, as a candidate for secretary general of the ruling Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM). While he said he would have no objection to Garrigó serving in that role, Mejía insisted the possible candidacy was not his initiative.