QCOSTARICA – According to data from the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE), part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), pest interceptions in the United States (USA) of Costa Rican products decreased by 12.26% as they went from 1,656 in 2014 to 1,453 in 2015.
All export products comply with the requirements of importing countries and, each year, the products that don’t comply with these requirements are fumigated, destroyed or re-exported. This applies both to the products that Costa Rica exports and to those entering Costa Rica from different destinations.
At some point, the US phytosanitary authorities have re-exported or destroyed Costa Rican exports to the USA, of roots and tubers, chayote, cilantro, and pineapple. Between 2010 and 2016 the US authorities made 451 interceptions of roots and tubers, 53 of which were re-exported or destroyed, 648 interceptions chayote, 27 of which where re-exported or destroyed, 2,000 interceptions of cilantro, 51 of which were re-exported or destroyed, and 1,920 interceptions of pineapple, 206 of which were re-exported or destroyed.
According to the Chamber of Exporters of Costa Rica (CADEXCO) to calculate the costs of a returned container one must take into account the freight $4,000, the return freight, which costs between 50% and 75% of the first freight, i.e. $ 3,000, approximately $ 500 in import costs (customs agency, bonded warehouse, etc.), and the cost of the load, which varies according to the product.
As for the products imported from the United States, the data shows that Costa Rican authorities intercepted onions, apples and cuttings in 2011; cranberries, pineapples, and grapes in 2012; nectarines, grass cuttings, plums, and potatoes in 2013 ; melons, onions, chives, chillies, apples and pears in 2014; and apples, strawberries, grapes, pears and ornamental products in 2015.
The dynamics of trade increases the risk of entry of quarantine pests, which is why Costa Rica and other countries in the world apply the measures established by law to protect their phytosanitary status.
Source: Freshplaza.com
