Table A.3.

Overview of currently applied risk mitigation measures applied in the packinghouse on M. charantia fruits designated for export to the EU from Mexico, based on the information provided in the dossier

Risk mitigation measure	Description of applied measure	Evaluation and uncertainties by the Panel
Protected transport	The field collected fruits are transported in chlorine cleaned, plastic boxes to field collection points by pickup vehicles with a mesh shade roof, and transported by non‐refrigerated trailers to the packing house.
Inspection upon arrival to the packing house	Fruit sampling after weighing at the packing house, searching for fruits with the symptoms of damage and/or presence of pests.	Inspection is intended mainly as a first filter to discard fruits infested by pests or which do not fulfil quality (visual) requirements. As such, is not aimed to detect T. palmi. This method will only detect heavily infested fruits showing clear symptoms of infestation.
Product washing	Pre‐washing of boxes with fruits with pressurised water in 360° in a tunnel to cool fruits and remove dirt; water may contain peracetic acid at 100 ppm or sodium hypochlorite at 80–100 ppm. Washing: washing in water (12–15°C) in stainless steel tanks during 5 min with detergent solution with food grade alkaline inorganic matter, to remove any solid matter. Sanitisation: Immersion of fruits in tanks during 5–10 min in water with 15% peracetic acid using concentrations between 80 and 150 ppm. Fans to remove excess water.	Washing is predominantly used to remove any solid matter, but also removes larvae and adults of T. palmi. Immersion of fruits in a detergent solution is a sanitising solution only. Eggs are not affected. Uncertainties: Unclear how often washing solvents are renewed.
Sorting/Classification/Packing	Once the fruit enters, they proceed to the selection and classification process. At this stage, possible physical damages are detected. The selection parameters consist of separating all those fruits that are damaged or malformed, inappropriate colour or any type of damage that detracts value and quality.	Sorting is intended mainly as second filter to discard fruits infested by pests or do not fulfil quality (visual) requirements. This method will only detect heavily infested fruits showing clear symptoms of infestation.
Fruit brushing and cleaning	Brushing between cut‐outs on the M. charantia fruit (Indian variety) or cleaning with cloth dampened in a solution of peracetic acid of 80–100 ppm (Chinese variety).	Fruit brushing has a low to intermediate effect on larvae and adults. Brushed adults may not be killed and therefore re‐infest other fruits in the packing station. Brushing has no effect on eggs as eggs are laid inside the fruit tissue, especially when using soft brushing. Uncertainties: Efficacy data are not provided.
Storage	Boxes with fruits are stored in cooled rooms at 10–12°C with 85–90% for 2 weeks within an anti‐aphid mesh, which prevents cross‐contamination during the journey of the product up to its final destination.	Cooling at 10–12°C will stop development of thrips. Peracetic acid/sodium hypochlorite is used for sanitisation of pallets and containers. Only 1 company – Agricola Alejandra del Valle in Navolato Sinaloa – exerts anti‐aphid mesh boxes. No effect on T. palmi.
Inspection of the export consignment	Inspection of the shipment prior to export and issuance of an International Phytosanitary Certificate by personnel authorised by Senasica, which corroborates that the shipment meets the phytosanitary requirements established by the European Union (Phytosanitary requirements for fruits of M. charantia established by the EU): pest free and free of plant residues and soil.	Inspection is intended a final filter to discard fruits infested by pests or which do not fulfil quality (visual) requirements.