The fear is about the risk of new plagues showing up in Brazil.
The banana producer's association in Ribeira Valley (SP) delivered to the Ministry of Agriculture on 12 April a study about the negative effects of a possible import liberation for banana coming from Ecuador. The idea is to support the government to create phytosanitary barriers to prevent the entrance of plagues in the country. According to the director of the Vegetable Sanitary Department from the Secretary of Agro-livestock Defense, Cosan de Carvalho Coutinho, Ecuadorians must fulfill some requirements to access the Brazilian market.He said the the productive sector worries go beyond the fear of plagues showing up.
"There are several reasons. There's a commercial one, not directly related to my area, but there's also the concern about the introduction of new plagues. Since this implies new costs and new restrictions, even in the case of them wanting to export. So, I believe that the meeting was productive, in the sense that they are starting to realize the importance of the introduction of new plagues, and that this is our job", he explained.