Brussels, 06/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - The European Renewable Ethanol Association (ePure) has this week alerted the Commission to surging ethanol imports into the EU from Peru since the entry into force of the free-trade agreement on 1 August 2013. In addition to the change in the structure of trade resulting from the agreement, which allows Peruvian exports to benefit from the lifting of European customs duty, ePure has issued a warning against the substitution effect which can be seen in Peru, where volumes needed to meet domestic demand are being topped up by cheap ethanol imports from the United States (which is affected by anti-dumping duty in Europe). According to the association, Peruvian exports to the EU have more than tripled, reaching a level of 93 million litres between January and October 2013, compared to 27 million litres over the same period in 2012. At the same time, Peru imported 84 million litres of ethanol from the United States between January and October 2013. (EH/transl.fl)