Brussels, 03/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - More than ten years after the suspension of imports of French apples and pears to the US, bilateral negotiations begun by France are now bearing fruit. The first batch of apples has been exported to the US and several deliveries of apples and pears are expected to follow, according to an announcement made by the French Minister for Agriculture on Tuesday 3 February.
This embargo was introduced by the US, following the detection of a damaging pest, the pear leaf blister moth, which can affect the leaves on trees.
In summer 2013, France initiated bilateral negotiations with the US authorities. It introduced specific measures for ensuring a level of health safety for exports of apples and pears: inspections of crops before harvests, controls on fruit before exports, cold treatment of fruit during transport. These provisions, as well as a positive audit carried out by the US plant protection and quarantine authorities, led to the signing of a bilateral protocol in summer 2014, which has allowed the US market to reopen. (LC)