Ecuador meets regulations for export to the US

Ecuadornews:

The United States has a rigorous Law for the Modernization of Food Safety. Since this year applies to companies that bill up to $ 2.5 million. The Law for the Modernization of Food Safety in the United States governs this year the medium-sized companies that bill from $ 250,000 to $ 2.5 million per year. In 2019 it will also apply to small companies that bill under $ 250,000. For large companies it is applied since 2017.

The American standard is intended to prevent diseases caused by food. Valid since 2011, its most recent update includes important changes, such as preventive controls, inspection and compliance, food safety of imported products, compulsory recall of foods that do not comply with the law, strengthening of collaboration, among others. According to Armando Bonifaz, spokesman for the certification company Kiwi BCS Okö Garantie, countries and companies with exporting traditions have already assumed many of the requirements, so it will not be difficult for them to implement the few remaining requirements of the law.

The implementation process in Ecuador is not complicated, but it must be based on what the regulations establish and not on the experiences or opinions of third parties. “It is important that they know what is required to avoid unnecessary expenses and remember that this is a law for the evaluation of risks and preventive controls that affect the health of the consumer,” said Bonifaz.

This guideline must comply with specific regulations for each sector, but they coincide in the strictness at the time of packing, during pest control and waste disposal. “You have to be clear that the rules are hygiene and cleaning fundamentally.” The Ecuadorian health policy for the export of its products strictly complies with the food safety law with the United States for the entry of products, according to representatives of the sector.

Rafael Gómez, representative of exporters of broccoli and other vegetables, emphasized that his sector is subject to the different regulations to export not only to the United States, but also to Europe and Asia. “Throughout the chain, a detailed follow-up is carried out to maintain the quality of the product and avoid any type of contamination.

These fulfillments are made based on the certifications issued each year by an independent auditor “. Gómez explained that food safety refers, among other things, to traceability from the seed, the crop, the industrial process and export. “In case of presenting a defect the product, you can make a detailed tracking of where it comes from and what is the origin, which allows us to make corrections and avoid subsequent problems.”

The president of the Federation of Exporters, Daniel Legarda, considered that although the country has made great progress in the food safety system, there are delays in the delivery of certifications. USA is for Ecuador one of its most important markets. The main non-oil exports from Ecuador to the United States between January and August 2017 are aquaculture ($ 408,420), banana and plantain ($ 397,030), flowers and plants ($ 292,546), cocoa and processed ($ 158,139) and fishing ( $ 148,938)

To export 

Compulsory compliance 

To adequately comply with this law, you must have a Food Safety Plan, prepared by a qualified person and signed by the person in charge of the production unit. This plan will be required by importers.

3 aspects count for the certification, among them, the use of water and the hygiene of workers.

Process monitoring  

Under this law, all production processes are verified: farm, packing, safe transport and distribution. (I)

Source: http://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/economia/1/ecuador-cumple-normativas-para-exportar-a-ee-uu