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Brazil suspends fruit imports from Chile due to mite contamination
Brazil
Thursday 03 April 2008
The Brazilian government announced Friday a suspension of the imports of fruit from Chile due to a lethal type of mite that has been tracked in the products coming from the Andean country. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, the mite, which can have a lethal effect on grapevines, led Brazil to suspend imports of grapes, kiwi fruits, peaches, nectarines, apples, citric fruits, figs, pears and quinces among others.
The ministry added that the Brazilian government had warned Chile of the contamination of the imports with the plague in 2006, when it led the two countries to sign a bilateral agreement under which Chile was committed not to export fruit bearing the mite. However, laboratory tests showed that the imports continued to come with arachnid.
The ministry also said that the measure is aimed at protecting the Brazilian fruit industry, which creates approximately 4 million jobs. Brazil produces 34 million tons of fruit per year, which adds 11 billion U.S. dollars to the country's gross domestic product (GDP).
The ministry added that the Brazilian government had warned Chile of the contamination of the imports with the plague in 2006, when it led the two countries to sign a bilateral agreement under which Chile was committed not to export fruit bearing the mite. However, laboratory tests showed that the imports continued to come with arachnid.
The ministry also said that the measure is aimed at protecting the Brazilian fruit industry, which creates approximately 4 million jobs. Brazil produces 34 million tons of fruit per year, which adds 11 billion U.S. dollars to the country's gross domestic product (GDP).
