{"id":2414,"date":"2026-10-02T01:10:46","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T01:10:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/colombia-requires-plant-health-certificate-and-border-inspection-for\/"},"modified":"2026-10-02T01:10:47","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T01:10:47","slug":"colombia-requires-plant-health-certificate-and-border-inspection-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/colombia-requires-plant-health-certificate-and-border-inspection-for\/","title":{"rendered":"Colombia Requires Plant-Health Certificate and Border Inspection for Argentine Raisins"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph hsn-lede\">Colombia has established mandatory fitosanitary requirements for the importation of <strong>dried grapes<\/strong> from Argentina for human and industrial consumption, ensuring compliance with health and agricultural safety standards.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Colombia&#8217;s farm health agency, the Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario (ICA), has set the plant-health rules that seedless raisins from Argentina must meet to enter Colombia, under a resolution signed on Sept. 21, 2026 that takes effect when it is published in Colombia&#8217;s official gazette, the Diario Oficial<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\" id=\"hsn-cite-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The measure is ICA Resolution No. 00018421 of Sept. 21, 2026<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. It covers seedless raisins (Vitis vinifera L.) grown in and shipped from Argentina, whether they are eaten as they are or used by industry<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In short, Colombia now has a clear, written list of conditions for Argentine raisins. Each shipment needs a plant-health certificate from Argentina, must travel in new and labelled packaging, and will be inspected when it arrives in Colombia<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What does ICA require for Argentine raisins?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Article 3 of the resolution sets out <strong>three conditions<\/strong> for every import<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. They apply to the whole product range the resolution names: seedless raisins for human consumption, for industrial use, or for both<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"hsn-fig hsn-fig--solid hsn-fig--v4 hsn-fig--rail\" data-at=\"what-does-ica-require-for-argentine-raisins\">\n  <div class=\"hsn-fig__cards\">\n    <h4>Three conditions for every raisin shipment<\/h4>\n    <div class=\"hsn-fig__card\">\n      <strong>Plant-health certificate<\/strong>\n      <span>Issued in the country of origin<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"hsn-fig__card\">\n      <strong>New, labelled packaging<\/strong>\n      <span>Product name and exporter name<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"hsn-fig__card\">\n      <strong>Inspection at entry<\/strong>\n      <span>Plant-health check by ICA in Colombia<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The three conditions are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>A plant-health certificate<\/strong> issued in the country of origin. This is the official paper, called a phytosanitary certificate, that shows the goods were checked for pests before leaving.<\/li>\n<li><strong>New packaging, properly labelled<\/strong> with the name of the product and the name of the exporter.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A plant-health inspection at the point of entry<\/strong>, carried out in Colombia when the goods arrive.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each condition must be met for the raisins to be imported<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. The resolution does not list any pests by name, any treatment such as fumigation, or any laboratory test<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why did Colombia set rules for raisins?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ICA&#8217;s legal task is to protect the health of Colombia&#8217;s farm animals and crops<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. The resolution says ICA must prevent the entry and spread of pests and diseases that could harm the country&#8217;s plants and animals<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To do that, ICA studies the risk of each product before it sets import conditions<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. The resolution says ICA carries out risk studies and other technical work to fix &quot;the adequate level of protection&quot; and to define the conditions for farm imports<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. Requests for such risk studies follow an earlier rule, ICA Resolution 8389 of 2023<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The decision itself came from ICA&#8217;s <strong>Imports Committee<\/strong>, an advisory and decision-making group set up under ICA Resolution 13633 of 2023<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. That committee met on <strong>April 8, 2026<\/strong> and agreed the conditions for Argentine raisins<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. The resolution says it was then necessary to put the approved conditions into law<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How does the plant-health certificate work?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The certificate comes from the national plant protection organisation of the exporting country<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. In the resolution&#8217;s words, that body has a duty to issue the certificate so that plant products entering another country have been inspected or tested under official procedures<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The certificate shows that the goods are considered free of the specified <strong>quarantine pests<\/strong>, which are pests that a country wants to keep out because they are not yet present or are under official control<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. The resolution calls the certificate an internationally agreed document<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. It says the certificate is used to show that shipments meet the destination country&#8217;s import conditions, and that this makes international trade easier<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Argentine raisins, the certificate is therefore the first paper a Colombian importer will need. It is issued in Argentina, before the goods are loaded.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What happens when the raisins reach Colombia?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The third condition is a <strong>plant-health inspection at the point of entry<\/strong><sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. ICA staff carry out this check.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under Article 4, ICA officials who inspect, watch over and control these imports act as health police inspectors<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. They have the support and protection of Colombia&#8217;s civil and military authorities when they do this work, under Article 65 of Law 101 of 1993<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every official control produces a written record, in digital or paper form<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. The people taking part must sign it, and a copy stays at the place of the check<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. For an importer, this means each inspection leaves a signed record of what ICA found.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who must follow the new rules?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Article 2 says the rules apply to <strong>every person or company<\/strong> that imports seedless raisins of Argentine origin into Colombia<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. This covers both individuals and businesses<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"hsn-fig hsn-fig--solid hsn-fig--v4 hsn-fig--rail\" data-at=\"who-must-follow-the-new-rules\">\n  <div class=\"hsn-fig__who\">\n    <h4>Who has to act<\/h4>\n    <div class=\"hsn-fig__row\">\n      <strong>Colombian importers<\/strong>\n      <span>Check certificate and packaging on each shipment<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"hsn-fig__row\">\n      <strong>Argentine exporters<\/strong>\n      <span>Obtain a certificate and use new, labelled packs<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"hsn-fig__row\">\n      <strong>Customs brokers and freight agents<\/strong>\n      <span>Plan for the ICA entry inspection<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The changes fall on several groups:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Colombian importers<\/strong> must make sure each shipment arrives with the certificate and in the right packaging.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Argentine exporters<\/strong> must ask their national plant protection body for a certificate and pack the raisins in new, labelled boxes or bags.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Customs brokers and freight agents<\/strong> in Colombia must plan for the entry inspection by ICA.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Food makers<\/strong> that use raisins as an ingredient are covered too, since the rules include raisins for industrial use.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resolution applies only to raisins that both come from Argentina and are shipped from Argentina<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. Raisins grown elsewhere, or shipped to Colombia through a third country, are not covered by this text<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if a shipment breaks the rules?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Article 5 sets the penalties. Breaking any part of the resolution is punished under Articles 156 and 157 of Law 1955 of 2019<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. The resolution says this is without prejudice to any civil or criminal action that may also follow<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In practice, a shipment without a certificate, in used packaging, or without the product and exporter names on the label does not meet the conditions. ICA&#8217;s inspectors at the border are the ones who check this.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How was the measure drafted and notified?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ICA first published the text as a draft, which Colombia sent to the World Trade Organization (WTO)<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\" id=\"hsn-cite-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>. The draft has the same title and the same three conditions as the final resolution<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>. Its date and signature were left blank, to be filled in when it was signed<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The draft said ICA would hold a national public consultation through SUCOP, the single public consultation system of Colombia&#8217;s National Planning Department<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>. The final resolution confirms that this consultation took place<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both texts explain why the WTO was told. Colombian law says that when a draft rule affects international trade, it must be notified through Colombia&#8217;s contact points at the WTO, the Andean Community (CAN) and the G3, so that others can comment<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. The WTO agreement on food safety and plant-health measures also asks members to notify and publish such measures<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ICA also filled in a competition questionnaire under Decree 2897 of 2010<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. It found that the rule does not affect free competition in the market, so it was not sent to Colombia&#8217;s competition authority, the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What changed between the draft and the final text?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The core of the rule did not change. The three conditions in Article 3 are worded the same way in the draft and in the signed resolution<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>. The rules on official control in Article 4 and on penalties in Article 5 are also the same<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"hsn-fig hsn-fig--solid hsn-fig--v4\" data-at=\"what-changed-between-the-draft-and-the-final-text\">\n  <div class=\"hsn-fig__table\">\n    <h4>Draft and final resolution<\/h4>\n    <div class=\"pcrstb-wrap\"><table>\n      <thead>\n        <tr><th>Question<\/th><th>Draft sent to WTO<\/th><th>Final resolution<\/th><\/tr>\n      <\/thead>\n      <tbody>\n        <tr><th>Number and date<\/th><td>Left blank<\/td><td>00018421, Sept. 21, 2026<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><th>Import conditions<\/th><td>Three conditions<\/td><td>Same three conditions<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><th>Public consultation<\/th><td>Will take place<\/td><td>Took place<\/td><\/tr>\n      <\/tbody>\n    <\/table><\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The main changes are in the formal parts. The final text carries the number 00018421 and the date <strong>Sept. 21, 2026<\/strong><sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. It is signed by Linda Luz Barbosa D\u00edaz, acting head of ICA&#8217;s sanitary and plant-health regulation office<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. The draft spoke of a public consultation that &quot;will&quot; take place; the final text says it took place<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When do the rules take effect?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under Article 6, the resolution applies <strong>from its publication in the Diario Oficial<\/strong><sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. The resolution was signed in Bogot\u00e1 on Sept. 21, 2026<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. The text does not give a transition period for shipments already on their way.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The power to issue the rule comes from Decree 3761 of 2009, Decree 1071 of 2015 and ICA Resolution 13314 of 2023<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. That last resolution gave ICA&#8217;s sanitary and plant-health regulation office the task of issuing import conditions for animals, plants and their products<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key points on Colombia&#8217;s raisin import rules<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The table sums up the main facts of ICA Resolution 00018421.<\/p>\n<div class=\"hsn-table\">\n<div class=\"pcrstb-wrap\"><table>\n<thead><tr><th>Question<\/th><th>Answer<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr><td>What changed?<\/td><td>Plant-health import rules set<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Who issued it?<\/td><td>ICA, Colombia&#8217;s farm health agency<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Which instrument?<\/td><td>Resolution No. 00018421<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Date signed<\/td><td>Sept. 21, 2026<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Which goods?<\/td><td>Seedless raisins (Vitis vinifera L.)<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>From where?<\/td><td>Grown in and shipped from Argentina<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Which uses?<\/td><td>Human consumption and industrial use<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Papers needed<\/td><td>Plant-health certificate from Argentina<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Packaging<\/td><td>New, labelled with product and exporter<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Border check<\/td><td>Plant-health inspection at entry<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Penalties<\/td><td>Law 1955 of 2019, Articles 156 and 157<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Start date<\/td><td>On publication in the Diario Oficial<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From the day the resolution appears in the Diario Oficial, every shipment of Argentine seedless raisins will need a certificate from Argentina, new labelled packaging and an ICA inspection at the Colombian border<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading hsn-refs-title\">Sources<\/h2>\n<ol class=\"hsn-refs\">\n<li id=\"hsn-ref-1\"><a class=\"hsn-refs__back\" href=\"#hsn-cite-1\" aria-label=\"Back to reference 1 in the text\">\u21a9<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/members.wto.org\/crnattachments\/2026\/SPS\/COL\/26_04983_00_s.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">26_04983_00_s.pdf<\/a> <span class=\"hsn-refs__url\">https:\/\/members.wto.org\/crnattachments\/2026\/SPS\/COL\/26_04983_00_s.pdf<\/span><\/li>\n<li id=\"hsn-ref-2\"><a class=\"hsn-refs__back\" href=\"#hsn-cite-2\" aria-label=\"Back to reference 2 in the text\">\u21a9<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/members.wto.org\/crnattachments\/2026\/SPS\/COL\/26_03728_00_s.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">26_03728_00_s.pdf<\/a> <span class=\"hsn-refs__url\">https:\/\/members.wto.org\/crnattachments\/2026\/SPS\/COL\/26_03728_00_s.pdf<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Colombia has established mandatory fitosanitary requirements for the importation of dried grapes from Argentina for human and industrial consumption,\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2411,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_regnews_id":"35555","_hsn_citations":"[{\"n\":1,\"url\":\"https:\/\/members.wto.org\/crnattachments\/2026\/SPS\/COL\/26_04983_00_s.pdf\",\"label\":\"26_04983_00_s.pdf\"},{\"n\":2,\"url\":\"https:\/\/members.wto.org\/crnattachments\/2026\/SPS\/COL\/26_03728_00_s.pdf\",\"label\":\"26_03728_00_s.pdf\"}]","_hsn_no_sources":"","_hsn_content_hash":"03e824161023a7f17d991099278af515ea7e202a:6477749cd6f9fb01ce11522fbe3cbc87ea01742a","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"dried grapes","footnotes":""},"categories":[9,148],"tags":[28],"class_list":["post-2414","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-agriculture-livestock","category-americas","tag-colombia"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2414","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2414"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2414\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2415,"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2414\/revisions\/2415"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2411"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2414"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2414"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2414"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}