FreshPlaza talked to dr. Rosario D'Anna from the Sicily Phytosanitary Service for an assessment of the protocol that should make it possible to export table grapes to Canada once more.
The official list of authorised Italian operators will be transmitted to competent authorities at the Canadian embassy in Italy in week 36.
As regards the doubts raised by the Canadians on the risk of Lobesia botrana contamination on stone and kiwi fruit, the problem derives from the fact that a system approach has not yet been established for these products.
"The risk is almost nil for table grapes, especially since bunches must be in excellent condition to be destined for fresh consumption. Together with the system approach, this means we should soon be able to ship the first load."
In Puglia, the APEO exporter association is also collecting the documents necessary to start exporting again. "We hope everything can be resolved in the next 20 days and we would like to ship at least 2-3 containers to make sure everything works as it should," stresses APEO President Giacomo Suglia.
Here are the obligations authorised exporters must comply with:
- Adopt national integrated pest management guidelines;
- Use authorised phytosanitary products;
- File the documents on the production/commercialisation process for at least two years;
- Be available or appoint a technician to maintain contacts with the Regional Phytosanitary Service;
- Carry out checks on the production/commercialisation protocols according to the parameters established by the Regional Phytosanitary Service;
- Report the presence of any harmful organism or any other anomaly concerning the batches to be exported to Canada;
- Allow Phytosanitary inspectors to access the company to carry out checks and/or samplings;
- Fill out any document and sheet in all its parts;
- Obtain at least a HACCP or GlobalGAP certification;
- Notify the Phytosanitary Observatory Service about the vineyards requiring authorisation by 10th April every year;
- Report the registry code on all the documents concerning the batches to be exported and on packaging;
- Train harvesting and packaging staff so they can detect the presence of parasites;
- Comply with the provisions put in place by the Regional Phytosanitary Service;
- Return the authorisation within 60 days in the case of cessation of business activities;
- Collaborate with the Regional Phytosanitary Service to achieve the objectives identified by the Protocol.