In recent days, technicians from the Department of Agriculture of Thailand (DOA) visited farms and warehouses in different productive areas of Mendoza to monitor the export control system of cherries and table grapes, as a preparatory stage to the opening of that market. The tour, which was coordinated by Iscamen and Senasa, concluded with a final meeting held in Buenos Aires, where, according to the national agency, the visitors expressed their satisfaction with the results.
"The Thai delegation got a good impression of how Argentina works its Fruit Fly Control and Eradication Program", said the Senasa Phytosanitary Certification Director, Martin Delucis, after having met with the two experts from that country, who visited the country for 9 days and visited different establishments up until December 14.
"We have good expectations regarding the opening of the Thai market to cherries and fresh grapes from Argentina, and we hope that by the next season we will be able to export to that country," Delucis added. In addition, authorities made progress in establishing the phytosanitary conditions for other Argentine vegetable products to enter Thailand.
The DOA delegation verified how the Fruit Fly Control and Eradication Program (Procem) work as well as different phytosanitary certification procedures for both productions. It was part of the audit that included packaging plants and refrigerators in Mendoza, along with Iscamen's Sterile Insect Production Bioplant, phytosanitary barriers, and the urban trapping system. The visit also included other producing areas, such as San Juan and Rio Negro.
To open the Thai market, the auditors must present their final report to Thailand's authorities to continue with the official publication of the Thai regulations, which will enable the export of Argentine cherries and table grapes.
Source: losandes.com.ar