A meeting between representatives from Peru's National Agricultural Health Service (SENASA) and their U.S. counterparts is expected to allow for greater mango and citrus trade, website Andina.com.pe reported. 

Restrictions on the size of mangoes permitted for export to the U.S are reportedly set to be lifted, along with which regions are allowed to ship citrus fruit.

Officials from SENASA and the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (AHPIS) will meet in Peru in mid-April to define the terms of the agreement, and restrictions could reportedly be lifted by the end of the semester.

Currently, Peru may only ship mangoes weighting up to 650g to the U.S., and the story said this would likely be increased to 900g.

In addition, while Peru currently only has authorization to export citrus from Ica, Lima, Lambayeque, Piura and Junin, shipments from all regions are expected to be permitted.

"For four years we have been working to be able to export citrus from the whole of Peru, and gaining approval for rainforest regions would make them much more competitive as there could be large investments," said SENASA head Jorge Barrenechea Cabrera, who made the announcement about the meeting.

Peru is reportedly also expecting APHIS to allow bell pepper imports within a year.

"The Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) has been completed, and the protocol is currently being drawn up," Barrenechea said.

"When it's finished it will be published on the U.S. Federal Register for a public consultancy period of 60 days. Gaining permission to export this product is still six to 12 months away."

Barrenechea also hoped an alternative could be found for fresh asparagus' fumigation requirements for U.S.-bound export, but said it was a complex issue due to the presence of pests in the country.

Photo: www.shutterstock.com

www.freshfruitportal.com