Strengthening the capacity of the Andean Region to manage maximum levels of chemical contaminants in fruit and vegetable exports
Exports of fresh fruit and vegetables from the Andean region face increasing SPS challenges as international markets tighten requirements on heavy metals and pesticide residues. Recent notifications from EU and US food registries demonstrate persistent SPS risks related to heavy metals and pesticide residues, which threaten market access, increase trade costs and affect the reputation of Andean exports. Between 2016 and 2025, Ecuador, Colombia and Peru registered a combined total of 163 EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notifications related to cadmium contamination and pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables, notifications increasing steadily since 2020. These trends underline the need to strengthen laboratory capacity, risk-based monitoring, traceability, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and risk communication to support compliance with international standards and maintain access to export markets.