Chile: Phytosanitary Inspection Site to be installed in Coquimbo for grapes, other produce
Recently, the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association and the representatives of the fruit and vegetable export company of Northern Coquimbo met and discussed the installation work and process of the phytosanitary station in the region.
The main content of the project is to build a site to inspect the production of grapes and other fresh fruits and vegetables in northern Chile.
Miguel Canala-Echeverría, general manager of ASOEX, said: “We met with representatives of exporting companies in the region to present in greater detail the Inspection Site project, as well as the steps we have taken as ASOEX with national and regional authorities”
This event has won the support of several export companies to participate: Río Blanco, Dole, Exser and Compañía Frutera del Norte SA.
Canala-Echeverría said the installation of this site represents a sanitary necessity for the exporters of the northern zone in general. Which takes greater relevance when it is currently awaiting the publication of the Systems Approach for table grapes produced in Atacama and Coquimbo, the above on the part of the phytosanitary authorities of the United States.
“Currently, all of the table grapes that leave the region must be treated with a product that is applied in the United States, a process that has unfavorable effects on the quality of the fruit, therefore, what we have worked with the SAG and the U.S. authorities is to have an option to avoid having to fumigate the fruit, that is, the Systems Approach, whose publication of the protocol we are waiting for,” he added.
“Table grapes from the region would be more sustainable with the environment given the elimination of the use of the chemical product, but also more competitive in the destination markets.”
The surface area of this new facility is estimated to be 15,000 square meters and will be located in the town of Pan de Azúcar.
The facility is expected to include roofs, terraces, inspection rooms, tables, sanitation services, warehouses, administrative and inspection personnel, and other requirements considered in the SAG/USDA APHIS and ASOEX pre-shipment plans.
