G/C/W/813   
29 July 2022  
(22-5726) Page: 1/2 
Council for Trade in Goods  Original: Spanish  
 
  
COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS  
ECUADOR – IMPORT RESTRICTIONS ON GRAPES AND ONIONS1 
Communication from Peru  
The following communication, dated 25 July 2022, is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of Peru.  
 
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1. Peru would like to present to WTO Members its trade concern regarding the restrictive 
measures applied by the Government of Ecuador to the reopening of access for grapes and onions 
from Peru.  
 
2. Despite the fact that the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures 
(SPS Agreement) provides that approval procedures must be undertaken without undue delay, 
Ecuador has provided replies that continue to stall access for Peruvian grapes and onions to the 
market concern ed beyond what is necessary.  
 
3. It should be mentioned that the Ecuadorian regulations imposing restrictions on Peruvian 
exports of grapes and onions were not duly notified to the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary 
Measures (SPS Committee), despite the fact that this measure lays down additional requirements 
that have a direct impact on the trade of other Members.  
 
4. Ecuador continues to require that refrigerated transport be used to export grapes, with one of 
its arguments being  that the refrigeration of fruit and vegetables is the best way of keeping such 
foods fresh and increasing their commercial life. However, it is important to note that the Ecuadorian 
Agency for Phytosanitary and Animal Health Regulation and Control (AGROCA LIDAD) does not 
require compliance with conditions on fruit quality or refrigerated transport for the entry and exit of 
grapes from other countries that are much further away.  
 
5. In addition, in the case of onions, despite the fact that the ban on Peruvia n imports has been 
deemed to be a measure that restricts trade within the subregion, according to Resolution No.  2253 
of the Andean Community2, Ecuador insisted on requesting a new pest risk analysis in order to 
provide access to its market.  
 
6. In accord ance with Ecuador's request, Peru sent all the information required for the pest risk 
analysis and, on 19 April 2022, at a bilateral technical meeting between the Peruvian National 
Agrarian Health Service (SENASA) and AGROCALIDAD, this Ecuadorian authority  committed to 
completing the aforementioned analysis in early July 2022, while also undertaking to offer a review 
period from 8 to 31 July 2022 for Peru's comments on the phytosanitary requirements.  
 
7. In this connection, Peru hopes to receive the propose d phytosanitary requirements by today 
at the latest, in order to ensure compliance with the commitments taken on by both parties.  
 
1 This statement was delivered by the delegation of Peru during the Council for Trade in Goods meeting 
held on 7 –8 July 2022, under agenda item  44. See also document  G/C/W/809.  
2 Resolution available at:  
https://www.comunidadandina.org/DocOficialesFiles/Gacetas/Gaceta%204415.pdf  G/C/W/813  
 
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8. Considering that the measures applied by Ecuador contravene the provisions of the 
SPS Agreement3, we ask Ecuador to:  
 
a. avoid proposing measures that violate the provisions of the SPS Agreement and the 
basic principles of the WTO;  
 
b. ensure that it does not disregard the technical agreements previously established;  
 
c. provide access for imports of Peruvian grapes and onio ns. 
 
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3 Concerns previously raised in the March 2022 SPS Committee, as well as in 
documents  G/SPS/GEN/1937, G/SPS/GEN/1975 and G/SPS/GEN/1907 and in the SPS Committee of 5, 6 and 
13 November 2020.