The formulation of this Philippine National Standard for Fresh Fruits – Mangoes, PNS/BAFPS 13:2004 was initially undertaken in July 2001 under the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS)’ Technical Assistance on Safety and Quality Standards Covering Products of High Value Commercial Crops, in view of the increasing demand of the commodity for the domestic and export markets.
This standard supersedes the PNS 168:1991 prepared by the Bureau of Product Standards’ Technical Committee on Agricultural & Other Food Products and its Sub-Committee on Fresh Fruits, BPS/TC 20/SC 5. This revision was undertaken to update the standard in order to cope to the increasing needs of the industry. Modifications were made on the various clauses: definition of terms, grading, size classification, tolerances, packaging, contaminants and hygiene. The maximum levels for heavy metals and pesticide residues are included in this standard.
In 2003, the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS) conducted series of technical reviews and public consultations nationwide on the draft standards for fresh mango fruits prior to its approval.
The Technical Committee and Sub-Committees of BAFPS organized through Special Order No. 411, series of 2001 set the classification of fresh mango fruit based on their physical characteristics and current practices existing in the sectors concerned.
In the preparation of this standard the following documents were considered:
Coates, L.T. Cooke, D. Persley, B. Beattie, N. Wade and R. Ridgway, 1995, Postharvest Diseases of Horticultural Product: Tropical Fruit (Vol. 2). Manager Publishing Services, Department of Primary Industries, Australia.
Mendoza, D.B. and R.H.H. Wills. 1984.Mango: Fruit Development, Postharvest Physiology and Marketing in ASEAN. ASEAN Food Handling Bureau, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Organic Fruit and Vegetables from the Tropics. United Nations. New York and Geneva, 2003. Pp 109-118.
Pesticide residues in food. 1993. Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme. Codex Alimentarius Supplement One to Volume Two. Codex Alimentarius Commission. United Nations. World Health Organization, Rome.
Philippine National Standards: Fresh Fruits and Vegetables – Mangoes (Mangifera indica Linn.) Grading and Classification. PNS 168:1991; Bureau of Product Standards, Department of Trade and Industry, Makati, Philippines.
