Ecuador passed controls on prohibited residues that could appear in the agricultural products it exports, consolidating itself as very reliable for feeding the world, not only respecting the minimum permitted traces of pesticides for different markets, even the most demanding ones, but also improving its quality qualifications imposed by rigorous consumers, which added to the special characteristics of its wasteful nature that enriches the virtues of agricultural and food production, is reflected in the growth of non-oil foreign exchange income.

News about agronomy and agriculture in Ecuador

Importers, through their organized unions and conglomerates such as the European Union and the United States of America, with their iron will to guarantee the health and environmental protection of the population, are zealous guardians of local crops and vegetables that pass through their borders. , effectively applying “mirror clauses” that mean “require from imported products the same conditions that apply to own production”; To this end, agencies in charge of monitoring full compliance with strict phytosanitary and veterinary regulations operate independently of political power. Therefore, every year the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) publishes the findings of sampling carried out at various food access points outside the region that non-compliance with the minimum established parameters will prevent its passage by stopping new deliveries.

The United States FDA is expanding its work and establishing corrective measures with sanctions to suspend access to the vetoed items, raising alarms against the presence of heavy metals, pesticides, and undeclared dyes in fruits and vegetables, causing discredit to offending companies and countries of origin. For the 27 members of the European Union, the control body is the European Safety Agency, EFSA, which assesses and reports on compliance with standards, finding in 2021 (the last reported year) that out of 87,863 analyzed samples, 96.1% were below the maximum allowed. level (MRL), while only 2.5% did not correspond to the ranges. A recent report suggests that agricultural food tested in 2021 is unlikely to pose a health problem for consumers. However, it highlights recommendations for increasing the effectiveness of the surveillance system.

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Exporters and farmers must thoroughly study the European report, the summary of the phytosanitary situation of the products arriving at the inspection points, it is inevitable to comply with the minimum requirements, but it is desirable to be sure that there are no traces of pesticides, especially those that worry customers, it is a joint effort of crop management, rejecting intake with restrictions and avoiding contamination of the whole nature , a behavior that must be maintained in the sale that will be registered after the already signed agreements with China and the next with South Korea, reminding of the deficient controls of the past that ended in the loss of the market. (OR)