After several negotiations, the European Union removed the quarantine plague category of the Monilinia fructicola, which opens up greater prospects for the export of stonefruit such as peaches, cherries and plums.
This is good news for Chilean exporters of peaches, cherries and fresh plums to the European Union. After three years of negotiations, the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) and the Directorate General for International Economic Relations (Direcon) announced that the block had removed the Monilinia fructicola from its regulation on quarantine pests. The Monilinia fructicola is a fungus associated with the rotting of fruit that mainly affects the trees of the Prunus genus, i.e. plums, apricots, peaches and almonds.
"The removal of this restriction shows that our country's animal and plant health condition is a guarantee to open new markets and facilitate international trade of our agricultural products," said Angel Sartori, National Director of the SAG, adding that "the SAG will continue to do everything in its power to maintain and enhance this heritage."
"The measure will simplify procedures, as it won't be necessary to certify or spray our crops for this pest, which lowers export costs. This is very good news for the domestic bone fruit export sector, because it broadens perspectives on trade and opens more possibilities for access to a market of over 500 million people, "said Andres Rebolledo, director of Direcon.
Last year, exports of stonefruit to the EU accounted for USD $54 million.
The changes to the quarantine pests list will come into effect starting October 1 this year.
Source: eleconomistaamerica.cl