Importers could assume the cost of a laboratory test to determine the absence of the sunblotch disease so that the SFE can authorize entry into the country.
The proposal was raised by the SFE in a meeting held with Mexican authorities in late February.
Randall Benavides, president of the Chamber of Exporters and Importers of Perishables, told Nacion.com that"...
In Costa Rica since the government suspended imports of Mexican avocados in May 2014, the average wholesale price of the fruit went up by 19% in 2015 and 16% last year.
Since the country stopped the imports of mexican avocados because of the alleged presence of the sunblotch plague, the price of this fruit in the local market has kept on rising.Although avocados are now imported from seven different countries, total imports have fallen 25% since then, and the average price has recorded since then an annual increase of 18%.
According to the food industry chamber, the import ban on certain food products "does not conform to principles of reasonableness, technical criteria and political neutrality."
In a new attempt to reason with the authorities of the Ministry of Agriculture and the State Phytosanitary Service, the Costa Rican Chamber of the Food Industry (Cacia) asked President Solis to intervene to lift obstacles that have been imposed on the import of raw materials such as "... honey, potatoes, some varieties of spices, pork, fish, green bananas and jalapenos ..." as they are having problems entering the country.
Non-tariff restrictions applied by the Ministry of Agriculture put into practice its ultra protectionist philosophy, contradicting what the Ministry of Foreign Trade is doing, generating shortages and distorting the market.
An article in Nacion.com reports on how the Minister of Foreign Trade (Comex), Alexander Mora, "... criticized the lack of advanced warning from partner countries of Costa Rica, regarding recent sanitation blockages that prevent products being imported in those markets. "
From Mexico, where the sunblotch disease has been present for 100 years, Costa Rica imports 80% of the avocados it consumes, but has now banned imports, citing contamination risk.
An article on Elfinancierocr.com reports that the Mexican phytosanitary authorities questioned "... the basis of the decision made by the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) in Costa Rica to stop importing avocados from Mexico and seven more markets. " ... "Mexicans indicated that" ... in analyzing the arrangement to stop the importation of Mexican avocados there is a lack of "scientific evidence that justifies the decision of the SFE".