Colombian phytosanitary system, due to the joint work between the ICA and the Ministry of Agriculture with the unions and producers in complying with the requirements of international markets, succeeded in the United States' Plant and Animal Sanitary Inspection Service (APHIS) authorize the entry of paprika (sweet pepper) and ají (hot pepper) produced in Colombia to the North American market.

The authorization came after, within the framework of the national government's Health Diplomacy policy promoted by President Iván Duque, the negotiations were accelerated in 2019, with the aim of opening more markets and diversifying the export basket to provide more opportunities. to Colombian agricultural products.

"Paprika exports have grown during the last 5 years, between 2016 and 2020 they already amount to 748,239 sollars. With this new opportunity, we hope to start a work with the private sector that allows us to identify what they require from the national government and take advantage of this market in the short term, which allows us to position the Colombian paprika in the US market just as we have done with avocado, "said the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Rodolfo Zea Navarro.

On the other hand, the general manager of the ICA, Deyanira Barreo León, noted "the work of the ICA with the producers in each farm delivers results to generate confidence in the markets of the world. With the acceptance of Colombian paprika and chili in the United States we continue working to boost the country's economy and generate employment and well-being in the countryside. "

The properties, as well as the packing plants, must have registration, authorization, control and supervision by the ICA as the sanitary and phytosanitary authority of the country. All export packaging must contain the ICA registration codes of the place of production, packing plant and exporter.

The Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, José Manuel Restrepo Abondano, explained that a new opportunity is opening to take advantage of more and better the Trade Agreement with the United States, in force since 2012.

"A great opportunity opens up for Colombia. This is the result of joint work between the public and private sectors and of commercial and health diplomacy, led by the ICA, which is part of the Government's Foreign Trade Policy. capsicum) were prioritized by the technical agencies of both countries to obtain their admissibility to the US market since 2019 and today we have this result, even in the midst of the pandemic, "said Minister Restrepo.

In turn, Flavia Santoro, president of ProColombia, pointed out "the access of paprika to the United States translates into another step to continue positioning ourselves as a great global supplier of agri-food, in order to respond to the call that FAO has made us to be one of the pantries in the world. This, thanks to the fact that we have a constant production throughout the year and a great diversity of thermal floors. From ProColombia, we will accompany entrepreneurs in this sector to conquer American palates. "

The requirements that producers and exporters must meet are to grow these products in greenhouses that exclude pests registered with the ICA, have trapping for fruit flies (Ceratitis capitata and Anastrepha fraterculus) inside the greenhouse and in the buffer area and implement surveillance actions for the fruit borers Neoleucinodes elegantalis and Copitarsia decolora and the rust Puccinia pampeana. Likewise, the transport from the place of production to the packing plant must be protected with mesh.

Currently Colombia has 14 farms that produce paprika registered for fresh export with a total of 11 hectares, which are located in the departments of Antioquia, Boyacá and Valle del Cauca, in the same way there are 7 exporters and 8 packing plants registered with the ICA.

The articulation between the ICA and the ministries of Commerce, Industry and Tourism and Agriculture, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Embassy of Colombia in the United States, made it possible to stimulate the process in the strategy of taking advantage of trade agreements.