Buenos Aires – With the aim of continuing to strengthen the traceability of the critics, hosts of the fruit fly, the National Agrifood Health and Quality Service (Senasa) developed that the Quarantine Treatment Centers (CTC) must label the containers that contain citric fresh fruit, subjected to a quarantine treatment with methyl bromide, cold or a combination of both and whose final destination is the protected areas of Patagonia, and the central and southern oasis of the province of Mendoza.

The measure published in the Official Gazette through Senasa Resolution 767/2023 establishes that all containers containing treated citrus and leaving a CTC must have a traceability label attached to one of its visible faces.

The label will consist of a QR code, so that it can be read with the camera of any cell phone, and will provide information on the production area, packaging that processed the fruit, day and time the fruit entered the CTC, treatment received, day and time. In turn, on one side of the label you can see the authorization number of the treatment center, date of treatment, certificate number and quantity of containers that make up the batch.

In this first stage, the labeling will only be for citrus fruits, since they represent the largest volume of entry into protected areas. Little by little, the rest of the fruit fly host products will be incorporated, such as peppers, avocados, grapes, quince, etc.

Strengthening the traceability of these products contributes to a rapid response by the Phytosanitary Agency in the event of possible emergencies. It should be noted that the measure will enter into force 60 calendar days after its publication in the Official Gazette. Until the aforementioned implementation of the QR labels occurs, the identification of the containers through the seals that are currently used Senasa Resolution 496/2023 will continue to be in force.

About Free Areas

The maintenance of Fruit Fly Free Areas in Argentina enables the diversification of fruit production and access to markets that regulate the presence of the pest, favoring regional economies and exports.

The recognition of the Free Areas by third countries, such as the United States, Chile and China, among others, allow improving the conditions of access of fruits and vegetables to the international market, reducing export costs and facilitating logistics in the commercialization.