Just days after U.S. authorities said they would not extend a stay on a rule to allow Argentine lemon imports, the South American country's citrus industry has made another breakthrough as the Brazilian market reopens after an eight-year hiatus.

Argentina's Ministry of Agroindustry announced on its website that the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture had given the green light to exports, after approving a risk mitigation system for citrus canker.

Argentine Minister of Agriculture Ricardo Buryaile said the long-awaited reopening was the result of many years of negotiations between various entities, and highlighted the importance of the market.

Marisa Bircher, Secretary for Agroindustrial Markets at Argentina's Ministry of Agriculture, said there were "very favorable expectations for the export of citrus to the neighboring country", especially for oranges and mandarins.

She added exporters would be able to compete with other suppliers.

Fedecitrus president José Carbonell confirmed to Fresh Fruit Portal that oranges, mandarins, grapefruit and lemons were now approved for export.

He said the industry has been working very hard for a long time to regain market access.

"This is very good news because it is an opening for all the citrus in the country into all the ports, and Brazil from a volume point-of-view is a very promising market," he said.

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www.freshfruitportal.com