Brazil facilitates the entry of Argentine grapes to its market
On April 29, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply of Brazil approved the Risk Mitigation System (SMR) for the control of the
Lobesia botrana pest in grapes produced in Argentina. This measure will facilitate exporting Argentine fresh grapes to the Brazilian market as the product will no longer have to undergo bromination, which complicated commercial operations and affected the quality of the fruit, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries stated.
Until 2019, Mercosur had a rule that required bromination of grapes when they were marketed between the Mercosur State Parties; that year, they approved GMC Resolution 22/19 "Phytosanitary Requirements for Grape Vitis vinifera (vine)," which enables using other quarantine treatments (such as SMR) as alternatives to methyl bromide.