The government has announced that companies certified as Authorized Economic Operators will have access to faster foreign trade procedures.
Companies interested in achieving this logistical facility in the trade of their products should register voluntarily as Authorized Economic Operators (OAS).
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture:
Pineapple exporters claim to have lost $2.3 million since the authorities started making additional inspections of containers at ports of departure.
Arguing that in April an increased presence of insects was detected in containers of pineapples exported to the United States, the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE) has tightened control measures, which are no longer limited to inspections on farms and packing plants, but also include an extra inspection at ports of departure.
Agencies in charge of the certification of organic products for export must meet new regulations set by the European Union.
From a press release by the State Phytosanitary Service:
In 2014 new regulations will govern EU organic products.
The MAG will support certification agencies and producers in complying with new requirements.
From January 2014 Certifying Agencies for organic products and the Phytosanitary Service (SFE by its initials in Spanish) at the Ministry of Agriculture will have to comply with the new rules established by the European Union with the objective of ensuring in more detail the implementation of the requirements that define a product as an organic vegetable.
Costa Rica is not allowing the entry of potatoes from the U.S. and customs in Miami have increased controls on ornamental plants coming from Costa Rica.
It has been assumed that the increased controls on ornamental plants occurred after the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE) of Costa Rica suspended the issuance of phytosanitary requirement forms for importing U.S. potatoes.
Costa Rica and Canada have recognized the equivalence of regulations governing the accreditation and certification of organic agricultural products in both countries.
This agreement "... allows free passage for Costa Rican exporters, dedicated to this subsector, to export to the U.S. market," noted an article in Elfinancierocr.com.
Rice, bananas, banana purée, cocoa, coffee, sugarcane, blackberries, oranges, noni, pineapples, aloe, legumes, vegetables, fruits and spices are some of the organic products that can enter the Canadian market.
With the equivalence renewal, Costa Rica remains in the EU’s list of third party nations, for an unlimited time, and on Switzerland’s list until 2013, allowing it to export organic products to the European market with a certification issued by national certification bodies under Costa Rican regulations and with the supervision of the SFE, an entity qualified at the national level.
A press release from the State Phytosanitary Service reads:
Costa Rica and the U.S. will sign a work plan document to enable the export of large-sized ornamental plants.
It includes topics such as good plant health practices, production locations, harvesting procedures, packaging plants, and phytosanitary certifications for exporting, among others.
“Costa Rica sells $165 million a year in ornamental plants.
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.