The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Sader) has reported that the US authorities stopped 43 shipments of Mexican tomatoes in recent weeks, on suspicion that they might be infected by the tomato brown rugose fruit virus, ToBRFV.
The head of the Sader, Victor Villalobos Arambula, said that the detention of the product was unjustified and asked the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to verify that the virus wasn't already in the North American country because the seeds come from the same source that of other North American producers use.
Villalobos Arambula also said that the volume stopped was minimal compared to the 80 or 90 shipments carried out daily. However, he added, it is very worrying that this health issue could negatively affect the image of Mexican products.
The official said he had met with tomato growers and that he had requested they take the greatest precautions during the entire production process so that if they suspected any cargo had the virus they could detain the truck before it reached the border.
