Ecuador has temporarily suspended grape imports from Peru after discovering pesticide residues in some batches being imported, according to local media reports on Tuesday, August 19.
Ecuador's Phytosanitary Regulation and Control Agency (Agrocalidad) issued a memorandum on August 4th requesting a temporary suspension of phytosanitary certificates for imports of Peruvian grapes (Vitis vinifera). According to the document, four samples analyzed at the Huaquillas Cebaf border inspection post had residues of chlorpyrifos, iprodione, methomyl, and monocrotophos above the maximum residue limits (MRLs) permitted in Ecuador. Authorities also detected carbendazim, a pesticide that has been banned in the country since October 2019.
Agrocalidad warned that these substances pose a health risk to consumers and call into question the country's official control systems.
Peru reported that the suspension will stay in place until the National Agrarian Health Service (Senasa) submits an official risk mitigation plan coordinated with Agrocalidad. This plan must include measures to trace the source of the contamination and verify that shipments comply with Ecuadorian regulations.
According to the Peruvian Minister of Agrarian Development and Irrigation, Ángel Manero, this issue should not be a cause for concern for the private sector because Peru doesn't export a significant volume of grapes to Ecuador.
Source: eluniverso.com