Fruit Fly Standards can Help Gain Market Access

Fruit flies present a major challenge to international trade, because if they are detected in fruits, trade may be stopped. That is why a set of International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) on fruit flies has been developed and recently reorganized. When a country wants to export fruit, this set of standards can help facilitate the process. The standards that are related to fruit flies includes: ISPM 37 on 'host status'; ISPM 26 on 'fruit fly free areas' and ISPM 35 on 'systems approach'. Through the implementation of these standards, countries protect plant resources from fruit fly pests while, at the same time ensuring the application of justified measures that facilitate safe trade.