Government working to open market for table grapes and citrus as intra-LatAm trade continues to grow
Peru’s plant health authority Senasa reported that it is streamlining the process for the export of agricultural products such as table grapes and citrus under improved phytosanitary conditions to facilitate trade to Chile.
The head of Senasa, Vilma Gutarra García, travelled to Santiago de Chile to meet with the national director of the Agricultural and Livestock Service (Sag) of that country. The goal is to promote agreements for grape, lime and orange producers to export their products to this new destination in the short term.
In the case of grapes, exports could begin as early as September of this year now that the phytosanitary requirements have been defined. For oranges, a technical cooperation agreement has been agreed upon to address issues related to fruit fly control in the border area.
Regarding lime exports, the requirement for laboratory diagnosis for each shipment of these fruits has been withdrawn and Sag will shortly be modifying its regulations to allow exports without this restriction.
Sag also announced that it had made its phytosanitary treatment facilities in the Arica region available to both countries, in order to facilitate trade. Importers and exporters will be able to carry out quarantine treatments for shipments that may be rejected due to the presence of pests.
Peru and other Latin American countries are working hard to improve access to markets across the region, which they regard as of strategic importance as production of key crops such as grapes, citrus, berries and avocados continues to grow.
