Costa Rica's State Phytosanitary Service (SFE) has lent a hand to growers to make sure they adapt to new European Union organic import legislation that is set to come into effect in 2014.

An SFE release said the new rules would imply an increased number of field inspections and more samples taken for chemical residue testing.

"This is a new challenge for the country. SFE will deliver support to agencies so that, through  joint efforts, we can comply with the new demands of the market," explained Karla Morales, who heads up SFE's Accreditation Unit of Organic Product Certifying Agencies.

Costa Rica currently has five accredited certifying agencies that work with 2,273 growers, 68 processors, 62 traders and 14 inspectors. Among the organic products exported from Costa Rica include bananas, coffee, cacao, noni fruits, pineapples and aloe vera.

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