Japan is thought to be opening its market doors to Peruvian avocados shortly, after the country’s National Sanitation Service (Senasa) hosted a delegation of Japanese officials, according to a report by Andina.
Japanese government representatives met with the Peruvian agriculture minister, Milton von Hesse, this week to showcase the Andean industry.
The Japanese delegation was led by Hitoshi Yoshimura, deputy director of the Phytosanitary Division, and were taken to visit some of Peru’s production zones and packing houses.
Senasa emphasised Peru’s Hass avocados as free of fruit fly, citing a 2009-10 study carried out by the US Department of Agriculture.
To further the approval process, von Hess reportedly requested that Japanese authorities verify Peru’s phytosantiary conditions and certification system.
“We want there to be a recognition process by Japan of our health authority so that there is a lone requirement between the two countries,” the minister told Andina. “Recognition would help Peruvian competitiveness a lot with respect to our neighbors.”
The Japanese market represents a potential consumer base of 129m for the Peruvian avocado industry.
Von Hess had previously led a trade mission with Senasa to China, Japan and Korea to promote Peruvian products in June.
