Published Monday, April 13, 2020

Authorities reject Nicaraguan
beans shipment

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Several containers of black and red beans with dirt residue imported from Nicaragua were denied entrance to the country, citing concerns for the health of Costa Rican inhabitants, reported the Ministry of Agriculture on Sunday.

"The earth represents a high-risk route for the dispersal of pests such as nematodes, insects, bacteria, fungi, among others; and today more than ever we are clear about the importance of food security," said Fernando Araya-Alpízar, from the Ministry. "We cannot risk the phytosanitary status of national production."

Authorities call on importers not to let their guard down with the quality of products in the country. The name of the person responsible for the shipment was not released.

National and international regulations provide zero tolerance for the presence of soil (dirt) attached to imported agricultural products, the ministry said.

Microorganisms that are not present in the country can be associated with crops and survive for many years in the soil. Many of these pests require sophisticated diagnostics to be able to detect them specifically.

Support is provided to the Phytosanitary Service through a 24-hour surveillance staff. The service provides attention and review of quality and safety of food entering the country, guaranteeing the consumer that these products have the conditions and standards required by the country, said Rogers Bermúdez, president of the National Production Council.

According to the ministry, the entry of pests and plant diseases can destroy a country's agricultural economy, as it happens with epidemics and animal diseases.

The importance of avoiding the entry of pests and diseases that jeopardize the phytosanitary (plants), zoosanitary (animal) and sanitary (human) status of a country cannot be lost sight of, said Araya-Alpízar.

Authorities did not report the total quantity of the shipment, however, the containers were returned to Nicaragua. The product is supposed to be processed, meet the sanitary requirements, and attempt to import once again into the country.

A recent confiscation of products without meeting the sanitary requirements happened in March. Police confiscated 11,273 units of alleged counterfeit products valued at $124,171.



The case on counterfeit products entered the country with an alert issued by France INTERPOL. They reported the sale of drugs, medical devices and illegally manufactured products in several countries.

The result of the international operation was a total of 4,388,413 units of products seized with a value of more than $14 million, said the police.

In Costa Rica raids were made in natural-product stores, drugstores, doctor's offices, customs warehouses, warehouses within the Juan Santamaría International Airport and warehouses within border posts where the products were possibly imported and stored, said the police in its report.

The seizures were made in different stores across the country, where products were already being sold as natural goods without the corresponding sanitary registry.

Also, the alleged counterfeit products were made without good production practices, according to the police report.

"Among the places raided is a laboratory in San José registered under the name Pelysch SA that was allegedly linked to those products illegally without sanitary registration," said the police.

Many of these products were offered on social media through brands like Sex-Max, Mero-Macho and Mega-Gold. These products have no health registration and are adulterated with ingredients from other types of medications, said the police.

Most of the seized medications were offered as treatments for erectile dysfunction, breast cancer, hypnotics, sedatives, anabolic steroids, pain relievers, nervous system control drugs and surgical masks.

Police ask to report any suspicious selling of contraband products in their communities. Complaints can be made by calling (506) 2223-0333.






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