The National Service for Plant and Seed Quality and Health (Senave), the Paraguayan agency responsible for plant quality and health, has postponed until December 31 the requirement to use the Fruit and Vegetable Traceability System for bananas, pineapples, melons and papayas.
The extension was adopted to allow registration records to be regularized and training sessions to be held with producers and other parties involved. During this period, the Plant Traceability Department, in coordination with Senave’s technical departments, is expected to guide participants on joining the system and using it correctly.
Once the deadline expires, registration will become mandatory for the four products, as will issuance of the Plant Traceability Document (DTV), which is required to substantiate the origin of plant products and track their movement.
The measure responds to a request submitted by fruit and vegetable producer organizations. The sector had already obtained a six-month extension, counted from January 1, but requested additional time to comply with the provisions.
In practice, the postponement prevents producers who have not yet regularized their status from being immediately subject to the documentation requirement, while Senave expands training and participation in the system. After December 31, the absence of registration or a DTV could prevent the formal verification of the products’ origin under the rules in force.
The system is part of official measures to strengthen the quality and health of plant-based foods, reduce risks to human health, animals and the environment, and facilitate the control of potential plant-health problems. Senave reiterated that its technical regulations are mandatory.