Pineapple sector requests scanner review of all exports

The use of products like pineapple to transfer drugs is starting to worry the whole sector in Costa Rica, because of the bad image that the country gives internationally. Professionals demand the immediate implementation of scanners for 100% of containers leaving the country.

 

 

 

Canapep (Cámara Nacional de Productores y Exportadores de Piña) deplores the government's inaction after several drug seizures in the United States and Europe in fresh pineapples from Costa Rica. Canaped is calling for more inspections at the start of exports and a greater deployment of scanners to check products before shipment.

 

 

 

The issue of deploying scanners has been going on for several years. For the moment, only one port terminal in the country has the necessary equipment, but the 2nd phase comprising the analysis and interpretation of images in real time in coordination with the CIR (Centro de Inspección Remota) is not yet operational .

 

 

 

In another important port in the country, Caldera, it is still necessary to install scanners. From this port, containers with fresh produce such as pineapples and bananas are exported weekly.

 

 

 

According to Canapep, Costa Rica exports an average of around 2,000 containers of pineapple per week.