Officials from the Dominican Republic's Plant Quarantine Inspection Service (AIPC) at Punta Cana airport confiscated a significant amount of fruits and vegetables from a renowned Spanish artist's luggage. The artist, who owns a villa in Punta Cana, had arrived from the Bahamas carrying 42.16 kilograms of various produce, including strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cherries, tomatoes, beets, celery, beans, spinach, lettuce, mushrooms, and arugula.
Rosa Lazala, the director of Plant Health, emphasized the country's increased surveillance and inspection measures of luggage and passengers as part of the Ministry of Agriculture's initiative to prevent the introduction of animal or plant products that could harm national production.
Erick Montilla, the Ministry of Agriculture's spokesperson, highlighted the significance of these controls and the collaboration with the International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health in maintaining constant vigilance at all Dominican entry points. This is in response to the detection of the Mediterranean fly species, a potential threat to crops.
This incident demonstrates the stringent regulations and measures implemented to protect the Dominican Republic's agricultural sector from the risks associated with the unauthorized importation of plant and animal products.
Source: dominicantoday.com