Portuguese agriculture minister announced change at last month’s Luso-Brazilian Summit
Portugal will be able to export lemons to Brazil following the publication of a new phytosanitary protocol. The move was announced by José Manuel Fernandes, Portuguese minister of agriculture and fisheries, during last month’s Luso-Brazilian Summit in Brazil.
The new protocol requires that shipments of lemons to Brazil include a phytosanitary certificate from the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) of Portugal, with a declaration confirming the absence of specified pests and diseases.
“Lemons are a sought-after product in Brazil and this market is expected to be very favourable for us,” Fernandes says.
The new rules specify that shipments are subject to inspection at points of entry, with samples collected for analysis in official or accredited laboratories. It also states that if a quarantine pest is intercepted, the shipment will be destroyed or rejected. In such cases, the Portuguese NPPO will be notified, and Brazil may suspend imports pending a review of the Pest Risk Analysis.
