LATAM fruit producers reject EU limits on residues

Latin America’s banana producer and export organisations have roundly rejected the EU’s decision to reduce maximum residue limits (MRLs) and are committed working together to reverse the measure. All foods intended for human or animal consumption in the EU are subject to a maximum residue limit of pesticides in their composition to protect people’s and animals’ health.

The EU regulates the limits applicable to the different food products and sets a maximum limit applicable by default, which is the one that generates problems for producing countries, such as those in Latin America. However, the LATAM organisations declared in a press release that the EU measure interferes with molecules that are fundamental in the production and export of fruit and are fundamental for the control of diseases and pests in banana and banana plantations. They claim that productivity would be seriously compromised as crops would not be able to successfully tackle pests and diseases. These strict measures are not currently in place in other demanding markets like the US and Japan.

The organisations involved at the meeting in Costa Rica were the Association of Independent Banana Producers (APIB) of Guatemala; Ecuadorian Association of Banana Exporters (AEBE); Banana Marketing and Export Association (ACORBANEC) of Ecuador; Association of Producers of Colombia (AUGURA); the National Banana Corporation (CORBANA) of Costa Rica; the National Chamber of Bananas (CANABA) of Costa Rica; Association of Independent Banana Producers (APROBAN) of Costa Rica; BANAPIÑA of Panama; National Chamber of Producers and Exporters of Melon and Watermelon of Costa Rica (CANAPEMS); Banana Growers Association Belize (BGA).