Costa Rican importers are demanding solutions after health checks prevented the entry of 20 thousand kilos of Nicaraguan red beans because they contained traces of soil.
The Nicaraguan union is complaining that the Costa Rican State Phytosanitary Service banned the entry of about 20 trucks carrying red beans after finding traces of dirt and sticks in the shipments.
In Costa Rica there has been an increase in the incidence Diaspis boisduvalii and Pseudococcus elisae mealybug in crops on the Atlantic slope.
From a press release by the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE):
The State Phytosanitary Service of the Ministry of Agriculture has declared a national emergency for the term of one year, due to increasing populations with the Diaspis boisduvalii and Pseudococcus elisae mealybug which are causing severe damage to banana crops. It is estimated that the impact has affected about 24 thousand hectares, according to data provided by CORBANA and the National Commission of Musaceae.
Costa Rican exporters sending ornamental plants of the species Dracena spp to the U.S.A must be certified.
In addition to the certification issued by the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE), the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) and the United States Department of Agriculture, producers must also enroll in the Healthy Propagative Material Program.
The United States will allow entry of Costa Rican ornamental plants with stems over 18 inches and up to 54 inches high.
This potential market opening occurred as a result of the "Clean Stock Program” for the export of Dracaena to the Unites States, which culminated in April 2009. Costa Rica has yet to perform additional phytosanitary studies so that the United States will allow the importation of plants older than two years, or higher than 18 inches.