The Peruvian table grapes industry is one step closer to landing its whole bunches in the Japanese market after MAFF officials from the Asian nation personally inspected orchards, pack houses and export facilities in Peru this week. This final step of verification inspections by Japan’s phytosanitary authority is to authorise the full export for 26 of the 30 table grape varieties requested by Peru, which have been allowed to enter the Japanese market.
Peru will in the current 2022/2023 season start out by sending trial shipment of grapes to Japan. This is to prove the required uninterrupted 30 days cold chain as well as test the entire export processes.
The Japanese authorities are known to zoom in on the minutest details of phytosanitary measures thereby delaying market entry for several years. To reach this step is a big milestone for Peru’s table grape industry. The market access process reached the urgency last October when the Japanese were satisfied that all the phytosanitary details where cleared out to allow Peru’s table grape exports. This week’s verification visit was the final step for Peru to clear the last technical details to gain the green light to go ahead with sending grapes to Japan.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Fish Farming of Japan inspectors, together with SENASA Peru officials visited the table grape farms of ECosac Grupo Costa del Sol. Hector Rubina Gastaneta, general manager of the company, based in Castilla District, Piura, Peru commented: “It has been an honour to participate in the efforts that are being made to finalize the access of Peruvian grapes to the Japanese market.”
Other countries that have access to the exacting Japanese market include the US, Australia, Chile, Mexico and South Africa.
For more information:
SENASA PERU
Tel: +51 (01) 313 3300
Email: mesadepartes@senasa.gob.pe
www.gob.pe/senasa