Cranberries, avocados and nuts will benefit from a new Work Plan between Chile and India

16/06/2015

In the framework of the public-private tour by various countries in Asia that is headed by the National Director of the Agricultural and Livestock Service, Ángel Sartori, on Friday the signing of a "Bilateral Technical Cooperation Work Plan" was finalized, among the of the SAG and the Deputy Secretary of Plant Protection of the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation of India, Utpal Kumar Singh, for the period 2015-2016.

The objective of the document was to establish a mechanism for monitoring commitments and achieving a technical exchange at the level of plant health, so that the Indian authorities know the way of work of the SAG, thus facilitating the reduction of phytosanitary requirements and / or the opening of markets . In this sense, the document raises the need to establish a work agenda and periodic meetings between the Chilean and Indian representatives, as well as open negotiations to improve access during 2015-2016 for blueberries, avocados and Chilean nuts, as well as nuts , coconuts, and Indian bananas.

In the case of Chilean products, the discussion is aimed at ensuring that these national products, whose income is allowed, can access the Indian market without being fumigated, since this affects the condition and quality of the fruit. In this way, through the signed Work Plan it is expected to be able to implement the inspection as a condition of entry in replacement of the fumigation.

The National Director of SAG, Ángel Sartori, explained that "This is a work plan that is framed within the memorandum of understanding that was signed in the 2001 year, and fundamentally seeks to identify a series of topics of bilateral interest, with the corresponding deadlines to solve each of the points. What interests us is to resolve what is related to the entry of blueberries, avocados and nuts".

The health authority highlighted the significance of this document, noting that "This work plan seeks to provide concrete solutions to issues that have been pending for many years. It is a tremendous advance, and Chile is the only country in Latin America that has signed this significant agreement that will result, in the medium term, in a remarkable increase of the items of fruit products to this country.".

noticia_16062015_2 Along with the highest authority of the SAG are also the head of the Division of International Affairs of that service, Verónica Echávarri; the Chief of the Division of Agricultural and Forestry Protection, Rodrigo Astete; the Aggregate Agrícola of Chile in India, Jaime González, and the General Manager of the Association of Exporters of Fruits of Chile (ASOEX), Miguel Canala-Echeverría.

Regarding the Work Plan, the General Manager of ASOEX, pointed out that «This is a very important step for the fruit sector, since, during the current year, it will allow us to modify the current fumigation requirement for the entry of blueberries and avocados, a treatment that harms the quality and condition of the fruit, preventing its export".

Specifically with regard to blueberries, Canala-Echeverría added that "is a product for which there is a great interest in the market, the phytosanitary agency of India must in August submit a proposal to the WTO, for public comments by 60 days, to subsequently publish the final standard. Consequently, if the established deadlines are met, an inspection procedure could be in place for the exports of this fruit, in the same conditions in which today they access the US and Canadian markets.«.

On the other hand, another issue that is of interest, and that is currently being worked on through the extension of the Partial Scope Agreement (AAP) between Chile and India, is related to the high tariffs, on average of 50%, that must be paid Chilean products to enter that market in Asia.