Costa Rica prevents the importation of Hass avocados and argued health reasons

Costa Rica in May banned the importation of Hass avocados from Australia, Spain, Ghana, Guatemala, Israel, Mexico, South Africa, Venezuela and the state of Florida, in the United States. The Government states fear cotarricense entry into the country of the plague “sunblotch” or patch of sunlight.

From the Chamber of Exporters and Importers of Perishables (Ceippcr) this measure claiming that the quality of Hass avocado -importado- regarding the national avocado is unmatched criticized.

Other business groups led by the Chamber of Food Industry and the Chamber of Exporters and Importers, have accused the center-left President Luis Guillermo Solis of promoting a policy of trade restrictions for various products government.

The Chamber of Industry and Commerce Mexico-Costa Rica (Cicomex) has spoken during this time claiming that the 15,000 tons of Hass avocados consumed in Costa Rica, 12,000 come from Mexico, a country affected by the restriction. And according to this chamber for 20 years Costa Rica imports the fruit from Mexico and has never been a problem, so that the restriction would not support.

On the other side of the coin are local avocado growers, who have applauded the measure of restraint applied by the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE) because they believe that protects Costa Rican production, which depend on each thousand families.

In a brief tour of the streets and supermarkets in San Jose, it is easy to find locally produced avocados of varieties.

President Solis sent a letter to various business chambers, in which he said his government is respectful of free enterprise and that restrictions are justified by the SFE and consistent with their duties and responsibilities.