Brazil has updated phytosanitary requirements for the importation of pomegranate cuttings and fruits from Israel and Argentina, requiring accompanying phytosanitary certificates and additional declarations issued by national plant protection organizations.<\/p>\n
Brazil’s agriculture ministry has proposed new plant-health rules for pomegranates and pomegranate seeds (arils) from Argentina, with comments open until Nov. 24, 20261<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n The draft is an ordinance from the Secretariat of Animal and Plant Health and Inspection (SDA), the ministry’s plant and animal health office1<\/a><\/sup>. It would replace the rules Brazil has applied to Argentine pomegranates since 20162<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n In short, every shipment of Argentine pomegranates or arils would need a plant-health certificate from Argentina’s plant protection agency, with written statements that the fruit is free of named pests. Brazil would inspect and sample the shipment at the border, and a shipment with a dangerous pest would be destroyed or sent back.<\/p>\n The draft is titled an ordinance of the SDA of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, still without a number or date2<\/a><\/sup>. Its first article says it updates the plant-health requirements for importing pomegranate fruits and arils<\/strong> (Punica granatum) produced in Argentina2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n The draft treats the two products differently. Whole fruits are placed in Category 3 and arils in Category 22<\/a><\/sup>. The 2016 rules used the same two categories.<\/p>\n The new rule would also repeal Normative Instruction SDA\/MAPA No. 10 of May 13, 20162<\/a><\/sup>. That 2016 instruction set the requirements for importing fresh pomegranates (Category 3, Class 4) and arils (Category 2, Class 10) from Argentina3<\/a><\/sup>. So the trade is not new: the draft rewrites the conditions under which it already runs.<\/p>\n Brazil’s WTO notification gives two goals: plant protection<\/strong> and protecting its territory from other damage caused by pests1<\/a><\/sup>. It does not mention food safety or human health1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n Brazil says the draft follows international plant-health standards. The notification names three standards of the International Plant Protection Convention: ISPM No. 1, 2 and 111<\/a><\/sup>. Brazil states that the draft conforms to them1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n The draft rests on Brazil’s plant-health laws, including Decree No. 24.114 of April 12, 1934, and Decree No. 5.759 of April 17, 20062<\/a><\/sup>. It also cites Ordinance MAPA No. 65 of March 30, 2021, and Normative Instruction MAPA No. 25 of April 7, 20202<\/a><\/sup>. The case file behind it is Process No. 21000.000307\/2015-752<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n A shipment of whole pomegranates must travel with a phytosanitary certificate<\/strong>, an official plant-health document issued by the exporting country2<\/a><\/sup>. In this case it must come from Argentina’s National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO)2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n The certificate must carry two "additional declarations", extra written statements that the NPPO adds to the standard certificate2<\/a><\/sup>. The first must say the shipment is free of seven pests2<\/a><\/sup>:<\/p>\n The second declaration concerns one more pest, Lobesia botrana<\/strong>. Here the exporter has a choice of four routes, set out below.<\/p>\n The draft gives four ways for whole fruit to meet the Lobesia botrana requirement2<\/a><\/sup>. The certificate must state one of them:<\/p>\n These four routes are listed in Article 2 of the draft2<\/a><\/sup>. Routes 2 and 3 depend on recognition by Brazil, the importing country, not only by Argentina2<\/a><\/sup>. A grower outside a recognised area or site would therefore rely on a treatment or on the bilateral work plan.<\/p>\n Arils are the seeds taken out of the fruit. A shipment of arils must also have a phytosanitary certificate<\/strong> from Argentina’s NPPO2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\nWhat is Brazil changing for Argentine pomegranates?<\/h2>\n
Why does Brazil’s SDA want new rules?<\/h2>\n
Which pests must the certificate cover for whole fruit?<\/h2>\n
Pests named on the certificate, by product<\/h4>\n
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How can Argentine fruit meet the Lobesia botrana rule?<\/h2>\n
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What do pomegranate arils need?<\/h2>\n
Whole fruit and arils under the draft<\/h4>\n