VENEZUELA

Capital: Caracas
Population:  25,700,000
Currency: Bolivar
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:

      The Venezuelan government has not established maximum residue levels (MRLs). However, the maximum residue limits established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission are generally accepted as the standard by domestic food companies and distributors of imported processed foods.

    B. Monitoring chemical residues:

      No government agency has been authorized to monitor pesticide residues in foodstuffs.  If a product is suspected of being in violation of an MRL, SASA (Autonomous Agricultural Health Service) can recommend detention and analysis of the shipment.

    C. Restrictions on use of waxes:

      None.

III. ORGANIC FRUIT REGULATIONS

No information.

            IV. TARIFFS

    The ad valorem tariff on apples, pears and cherries is 15%.

    Imports of these fruits from Andean Pact countries (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela) are assessed no duty. Imports from Chile are assessed no duty under a bilateral free trade agreement between the two countries.

V. NON-TARIFF BARRIERS

    A. Labeling requirements:

      All labels must be in Spanish and include:

      1.  Product name
      2.  Brand name
      3.  Net weight (Kilograms)
      4.  Name and address of packer
      5.  Name of importer

    B. Licenses and quotas:

      See section D. Pest and plant disease restrictions.

    C. Currency Issues:

    Venezuela has a fixed exchange rate system with foreign exchange sales to importers subject to control by a government commission.

    Strict rules govern applications for foreign currency transactions.  In addition to being registered with the government, importers must obtain a "certificate of non-domestically produced food product" and the "certificate of not-sufficient domestically produced food product" in order to have access to foreign exchange.

    D. Pest and plant disease restrictions:

      A phytosanitary certificate and import permit are required.

      Venezuela has limited and denied importers import permits due to a protectionist policy designed to assist domestic fruit producers and conserve foreign exchange.  This is not a result of phytosanitary concerns.

      Apples and Pears:  Additional declaration (AD) that, "Based upon inspection, the fruit in this shipment is free of Cydia pomonella."

      Non-Phytosanitary requirements (for exporters or their agents):   Fruit must be cold treated for Cydia pomonella (codling moth) and documentation provided to Venezuela showing the treatment.

      Venezuela identifies the appropriate cold treatment as the fruit being held at 0.0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) for 12 days OR held at 0.5 degrees Celsius (33 degrees Fahrenheit) for 16 days. Venezuela will accept appropriate documentation provided by the exporter or their agent showing that the required treatment was conducted either at origin or in transit.

      Treatment may be applied in transit. For fruit that is cold treated in transit, a thermograph record must be presented to Venezuelan authorities upon its arrival.

E. Solid Wood Packaging Material (SWPM) Regulations:

F.  Other

      As of September 1, 2003, imports are subject to a pre-inspection clearance procedure.  Inspections take place as the apples and/or pears are loaded into the shipping container in the U.S.

VI. SUBSIDIES

None.

VII.  MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES FOR PACIFIC NORTHWEST TREE FRUIT INDUSTRY

Washington Apple Commission:

Humberto Bonell
Bonesko S. En C.
Bogota, COLOMBIA
Voice:  011-57-1-2740515
E-mail:  bonesko@telmex.net.co

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 

VIII.  OTHER RESOURCE LINKS:

Governmental: 

IX.  ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Venezuela is updating its quality standards for fresh fruits.

Special thanks to
FAS Field Office - Venezuela

105 South 18th Street, Suite 105
Yakima, Washington 98901, USA
Voice: (509) 453-3193, Fax: (509) 457-7615

E-mail general@nwhort.org