The Uruguayan Ministry of Livestock presented this Thursday (28.11.2019) the communication campaign “We all build the barrier” which highlights the products of animal or vegetable origin that cannot enter the country in the next summer season because they put the sanitary status at risk. In addition, the director of Food Safety, Mariela Mauro, explained that the controls prevented the passage of 29.000 kilograms seized in 2016 to more than 55.000 in 2019.
The General Directorate of Food Safety of the Ministry of Livestock was created in 2016 with the aim of preventing the entry of products of animal or plant origin that could carry pests and diseases that put the country's agricultural production and its export markets at risk, recalled today the head Mariela Mauro, in the Presentation of the campaign “We all build the barrier.”
He said that the goal of the campaign on social networks (Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and website) is Generate visibility and impact on risks to reduce the number of products brought by tourists and Uruguayans returning to the country that may be harmful to the good health status that Uruguay enjoys internationally.
Mauro broke down that the Records show that the volume of confiscated goods increased from 29.000 kilograms in 2016 to more than 55.000 in 2019.. He explained that these are plants, seeds, fruits and vegetables and the rest are meat products, cold cuts, pet food. He said that the entry of meats, sausages, cold cuts, seafood, milk, cheeses, fruits, plants, seeds, crafts made of seeds or unvarnished wood, grains, bones, antlers, among others, should be avoided.
On this occasion, he stated that the department under his charge has agreements with the Ministry of Defense through which military personnel are integrated into inspection tasks at border crossings. In the next season there will be two more staff per shift in Colonia, Fray Bentos, Paysandú, the port of Montevideo and ChuyIt also has an agreement with the Customs Directorate for the joint use of technology that includes scanners and video surveillance cameras.
"That Uruguay enjoys the status of being free of diseases certified by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) provides preference in international meat trade and this must continue to be prevented," said the director of Livestock Services of the Ministry of Livestock, Eduardo Barre. "These are requirements that are put in place so that the exchange complies with all the guarantees and so that there are no health obstacles"He said.
Meanwhile, the director of Agricultural Services, Federico Montes, demonstrated how the introduction of a plant with the Huanglongbing (HLB) disease can seriously affect citrus production and export, without having any consequences for humans.
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