The European Union informed Brazil, last Friday (27/01), the withdrawal of the requirement for official certification and a reduction in the control rate of Brazilian peanuts destined for European bloc countries due to the product's compliance rate in in relation to contamination with aflatoxins (harmful substances produced by fungi).
The decision was taken based on analyzes carried out throughout 2022, which demonstrate that the controls carried out by Brazilian exporters and audited by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) guarantee the quality and safety of the product.
“This measure represents greater agility in export procedures and increases the value of Brazilian products on the international market”, highlights federal agricultural tax auditor Hugo Caruso.
In 2022 alone, Brazil exported around 285 thousand tons of peanuts, worth approximately US$332 million. Of these, 70 thousand tons were destined for the European Union.
According to Caruso, the improvement in controls on exported products also reflected in products sold domestically, which, in addition to being consumed fresh, is a raw material for sweets, cakes, ice cream, among others.
“The biggest concern regarding product safety is related to aflatoxins that are produced by fungi. These toxins, in addition to being carcinogenic, can cause other harm to health, and that is why we reinforce the importance of consumers only purchasing products from companies registered with Mapa, which periodically inspects the packers”, warns the auditor.
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