restrictions on imports of mangoes brazil indicated that it had been seeking approval to export mangoes to japan for 18 years. japan demanded steam treatment in spite of the satisfactory level of the measures taken by brazil chile and other potential exporters to avoid fruit fly. japan had continuously demanded more information and had not taken previous scientific studies into account. although japan had offered technical assistance this had not facilitated the process. brazil considered that japans measures were inconsistent with the provisions of the sps agreement on equivalence regionalization and technical cooperation. japan stated that brazil had requested technical assistance in 1986 but had stopped the technical assistance in 1990 because it wished to develo its own technique based on hot-water treatment. this design was launched in 1998. both countries agreed on this and the final data was submitted in 2001. supplementary information was needed however before japan could approve the measures and conclude the necessary technical studies. in october 2003 brazil stressed that japans restrictions on imports of mangoes were unjustified as mangoes were produced in an area 2000 km away from the area where the fruit fly was found. brazil was waiting for the completion of the public consultation process in japan and requested japan to act swiftly to allow the importation of mangoes. japan reported its authorities had recently received data from brazil on the trapping of fruit flies and was in the process of reviewing the information. brazil had submitted technical information in october 2001 and the technical studies by japan were progressing well. in march 2004 brazil stated that the japanese authorities had reacted favourably to technical data provided by brazil the previous year. the evaluation process had entered a new phase and brazil hoped to come to a satisfactory solution including the signing of a protocol on packaging storage and transportation of mangoes to japan. india noted that while india was a fruit fly free area its request for market access for mangoes into japan had been under review for ten years. india had submitted data to japan and hoped for a favourable response. japan stated that technical evaluation of data submitted by brazil was in the final stages. with respect to indias concerns japan had not received technical data from india but looked forward to receiving such data. in june 2004 brazil reported that after the last meeting brazilian and japanese phytosanitary authorities had held two technical meetings in japan to discuss a phytosanitary protocol that would allow brazilian mango exports to japan. in the last meeting the japanese authorities had confirmed that negotiations on the protocol had been concluded and certification of consignments remained the only outstanding issue. the japanese authorities had indicated that this issue could be resolved in parallel with the public consultation phase and brazil encouraged japan to initiate the public consultation soon. japan confirmed that the technical evaluation on the mediterranean fruit fly had been completed and a bilateral meeting had been held to coordinate plant quarantine measures for market access and requirements for hot water dipping. the new protocol was expected to be implemented based on the outcomes of these bilateral discussions. in march 2005 brazil informed the committee that on 29 september 2004 japan had modified its phytosanitary regulations and established specific norms for the import of mangoes from brazil. in december 2004 japanese inspectors had gone to brazil to examine packing houses. on 12 january 2005 the first shipment of brazilian mangoes had been exported to japan which marked the beginning of a regular flow of exports of mangoes to japan. to date eight shipments of mangoes variety tommy atkins had been exported without restrictions. japan noted that the measure was taken through the appropriate pest ri