The community block accepted a Senasa proposal to authorize a post-harvest product that maintains the organic production condition.

The Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Nation informs that, after 20 years, the European Union (EU) reopened its market to organic citrus fruits from Argentina as a result of efforts of the National Service of Health and Agrifood Quality (Senasa).

The European Commission’s Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) informed Senasa that it accepted its proposal to use sodium bicarbonate as a post-harvest treatment for the export of organic citrus fruits to the EU. It is worth mentioning that this product had previously been authorized by the EU’s Directorate General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) as a disinfection treatment against canker (Xantomonas citri pv citri).

This measure authorizes the export of these fruits, which had been prevented until now because our country lacked post-harvest treatments approved by the DG AGRI authorities.

Senasa’s proposal is based on its Resolution 374/16 that regulates the certification of production, processing and marketing of organic products in our country.

The EU authorization to restart the import of organic citrus after two decades without allowing it, is the corollary of the efforts of the National Directorates of Plant Protection (DNPV) and Food Safety and Quality (DNICA), together with the General Coordination of International Relations of Senasa, in the framework of the equivalence in force with the Community block.

The European authorities’ measure has a positive impact on organic citrus production in Argentina, which today has 3,342 hectares cultivated under these characteristics, favoring the development of regional economies.

Between 2001 and 2003 Senasa certified shipments to the EU for 2,500 tons of fresh organic citrus, mainly oranges and lemons.

Source: argentina.gob.ar