Officials in China again destroyed two batches of Philippine bananas on April 15. This time the quarantined batches were almost double that of the 35 tons from last time.
Quarantine inspectors ordered the burning of the bananas, all totaling 60.34 tons, after they said both batches were infested with pineapple mealybugs.
Reports at Shanghai’s entry-exit inspection burned the shipments after the Quarantine Bureau of Pudong informed them of the infestation.
The pineapple mealybug lives on the surfaces of various plants and can eventually kill the entire plant. If the bugs are imported and enter the agricultural system of a particular country, the losses to agriculture can be devastating.
The mealybugs cause discoloration and rotted skin on bananas, the images provided show the devastation leading up to their burning order.
Reports say the banana shipment was valued at $33,000 (USD).
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