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Capital: Bogota
Population: 41,008,000
Currency: Colombian Peso
Official Language(s): Spanish |
I. CHEMICAL MAXIMUM
RESIDUE LEVELS (MRLs)
Please click on the above link for a list of Codex
chemical MRLs.
II. CHEMICALS AND ADDITIVE INFORMATION
A. Chemical residue standards:
B. Monitoring chemical residues:
Colombia does not actively monitor
chemical residues on imported fruit.
C. Restrictions on use of waxes:
This aspect has not been considered
in the local regulations. The pattern usually is to accept U.S.
standards.
III. ORGANIC FRUIT REGULATIONS
No information.
IV. TARIFFS
Apple, pear and cherry imports are assessed
a tariff rate of 15% ad valorem.
Effective September 27, 2004, the
government of Colombia raised the tariff on Chilean apples and pears
to 15%. The decision to revoke Chile's previous duty-free
access, granted under a free trade agreement, is likely to remain in
effect until the two countries resolve their long-standing dispute
over access to Chile for Colombian sugar.
V. NON-TARIFF BARRIERS
A. Labeling requirements:
Labels on
packages or cartons must state the following information:
1. Product
name e.g., apples.
2. Net content.
3. Name and address of packer.
4. Country of Origin.
5. Lot identification.
B. Licenses and quotas:
None.
C. Currency Issues:
None.
D. Pest and plant disease restrictions:
A phytosanitary certificate (PC)
and import permit (IP) are required. A PC will not be issued
unless an IP is presented. All fruit must be certified in
accordance with the work plan. Fruit must be free from certain
tropical fruit flies which do not occur in the states of Idaho,
Oregon or Washington, Rhagoletis spp. including apple maggot
(Rhagoletis pomonella), Cydia spp. (fruit moths),
including Codling moth (Cydia pomonella), and San Jose scale
(Quadraspidiosus perniciosus). For
Cydia pomonella and Quadraspidiotus perniciosus
intensified inspection is required with at least 2% of all boxes in
each lot inspected for pests; 1% of the fruit in those boxes must be
cut and inspected for possible infestation.
Fresh fruit must have one of the
following additional declarations: "The shipment
originated in an area free from Maconellicoccus hirsutus
(Green), pink hibiscus mealy bug." OR, "The shipment was
inspected and found free of Maconellicoccus hirsutus
(Green), pink hibiscus mealy bug."
Since 1993 codling moth has been
detected in apple shipments to Colombia on a number of occasions.
According to USDA representatives in that country, when detection of
codling moth occurs the shipments must be re-exported as Colombian
plant quarantine officials are not authorized to have the product
fumigated and released for consumption. Shippers should take
all reasonable precautions to avoid sending codling moth infested
fruit to Colombia.
E. Solid Wood Packing
Material (SWPM) Regulations:
VI. SUBSIDIES
The government of Colombia
provides subsidized credit to agriculture, mostly to small farmers,
which may help fruit production.
VII. MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES FOR PACIFIC
NORTHWEST TREE FRUIT INDUSTRY
Pear Bureau Northwest:
Raquel Benaim
Consultores 27, Ltd.
Caracas, VENEZUELA
Voice: 011-58-212-286-0452
Fax: 011-58-212-285-8737
E-mail: rbenaim@gmail.com
Washington Apple Commission:
Humberto Bonell
Bonesko S. en C.
Bogota, Colombia
Voice: 011-57-1-2740515
E-mail: bonesko@cable.net.co
V III.
OTHER RESOURCE LINKS:
Governmental:
IX. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
The type of fresh fruit being
imported and the storage form (i.e., frozen or chilled) must be
specified when filling out the import registration documents.
On February 27, 2006 the
U.S. and Colombia concluded free trade agreement negotiations.
The agreement must now be signed into law by both countries before
it enters into force.
Special thanks to
FAS Field Office - Colombia
105 South 18th Street, Suite 105
Yakima, Washington 98901, USA
Voice: (509) 453-3193, Fax: (509) 457-7615
E-mail
general@nwhort.org
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