Traders still stuck with food imports

Food import sector in Ecuador still complicated after the 116th Resolution of the Committee of Foreign Trade (Comex) became active on November 19, which establishes a prior import control and includes the presentation of a certificate of recognition.

The rule was reported to Customs on December 2 and the next day went into effect; so far are 293 tariff lines, of which 156 are food. This complicated importers that did not meet these requirements, causing some of its products have not left its home factories.

 Christian Wahly, president of the National Association of Manufacturers of Food and Beverage (Anfab for its Sapanish acronym) explained that the most affected are were the fast food business and said that about 20% of food consumed in the country are imported.

On the other hand, Customs explained that importers who do not have documents, have not embarked products and thus there is no record of the merchandise that has not arrived. According to the organization, in national ports are not retained containers.