Apple sector calls for imported fruits to undergo the same strict phytosanitary regulations as domestic ones

Commonly known as the apple moth, Cydia pomonella, a moth less than 2 cm, was identified in orchards of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul for the first time in 1991, but has been eradicated in the country since 2013. To ensure that the country remains free of the pest, a national prevention and surveillance plan, instituted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa), has been in effect since September. The initiative is fundamental to protect the fruit, as the caterpillars directly attack the apple, perforating the pulp and removing quality and commercial value. Another direct impact is that the trade agreements signed by Brazil with buyers provide that the identification of Cydia pomonella in the product completely suspends sales. Due to the phytosanitary care to keep the fruit free from the pest, the Brazilian Apple Producers Association (ABPM), which represents the more than 3,500 farmers involved in the cultivation of the fruit, seeks to address system weaknesses, ...