I. CHEMICAL
MAXIMUM RESIDUE LEVELS (MRLs)
II. CHEMICALS AND ADDITIVE INFORMATION
A. Chemical residue standards:
The Dominican Republic defers
to maximum residue levels established by the Codex Alimentarius
Commission.
B. Monitoring chemical residues:
C. Restrictions on use of waxes:
III. ORGANIC FRUIT REGULATIONS
No information.
IV. TARIFFS
As agreed under the Dominican
Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement, the
tariff rate for U.S. apples, pears and cherries is zero.
V. NON-TARIFF BARRIERS
A. Labeling requirements:
B. Licenses and quotas:
An import permit issued by the Central Bank is
required. The commercial invoice, bill of lading and
consular invoice must all be certified by a Dominican consular
representative in the country of origin, which can usually be
completed the same day.
C. Currency Issues:
D. Pest and plant disease restrictions:
(see below)
A Phytosanitary Certificate (PC) and Import
Permit (IP) are required. The IP may contain additional
phytosanitary requirements. Shippers are encouraged to
review the IP prior to export. Fruit must have originated
outside an area regulated by the USDA for the Mediterranean fruit
fly and oriental fruit fly. Neither of these pests occur in
the Pacific Northwest. If the fruit transits an area
regulated by the USDA for these pests, the fruit must be in closed
or covered containers. An additional declaration (AD) is
required that "The products in this shipment were grown and
packed in areas free of Medfly (Ceratitis capitata)."
AND, "The product(s) in this shipment originated in an area
not regulated for harmful species of fruit flies."
Shippers should note that
codling moth is considered a pest of quarantine concern in the
Dominican Republic. Loads of apples with detectable codling
moth larvae have been refused entry. USDA's Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service office in Santo Domingo has informed the
NHC that produce refused entry for phytosanitary reasons must be
re-exported or destroyed, as the Domincan Republic does not have
facilities for post-entry fumigation.
VI. SUBSIDIES
None.
VII. OTHER RESOURCE LINKS:
Governmental:
VIII. MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES FOR PACIFIC
NORTHWEST TREE FRUIT INDUSTRY
IX. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
The Dominican
Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement
Implementation Act was signed by President Bush on August 2,
2005. This FTA entered into force in the
Dominican Republic on March 1, 2007.
Only very small quantities of apples are produced
commercially. Local production of pears is minimal and there is no
cherry production.
Apples and pears constitute a growing market in
the Dominican Republic as consumption grows from holiday season to
year round demand. Climatic conditions do not support large
increases in local commercial production and some of the current
growing regions have recently been designated as forest conservation
zones. Nonetheless, domestic producers are extremely protectionist
and continue to periodically lobby the government for stronger
import restrictions.
