He Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) inaugurated three X-ray scanners for the detection of organic matter in the port of Cologne, with the aim of strengthening the biosecurity and sanitary control of Uruguay without an invasive check of passenger luggage. The total investment exceeded 200,000 dollars and had the financial support of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
“We are preserving the work of the Uruguayans and the health agreements signed abroad,” said the head of the MGAP, Fernando Mattos, at the inauguration of the three X-ray scanners that will search for digitize, modernize and streamline the inspection of organic products of animal and vegetable origin at the entrance to the port of Colonia.
The equipment is double-view, so the suitcases can be lying down, which speeds up the control process when entering the country. They also allow the contraband and narcotics detection.
A team to “safeguard” the health status of Uruguay
Along with the three scanners, a software, available for web and mobile devices, for the registration and traceability of the procedures of the Directorate of Sanitary Barriers of the MGAP. The device includes a data bank and makes it possible to track the seized product until its destruction.
Also included in this program are the pets, using a QR code, which verifies the chip of these animals.
“It is to safeguard the health status of the country, in accordance with international commitments. You cannot enter products of plant or animal origin, or live animals, without being accompanied by the respective certificates of origin that enable it,” Mattos recalled, realizing the importance of the measure inaugurated for the prevention of the entry of a disease , pest or weed, and that end up affecting national production.
He also added that Uruguay is an exporter of top quality food and that it markets with more than 100 authorized countries. In this sense, he added that, with most of them, there are health agreements that imply that exhaustive controls are carried out.
During the inauguration, the project manager of the Support Program for Public Agricultural Management of the IDB, Paul de Salvo; the general director of Biosecurity and Food Safety, Virginia Guard, and authorities and directors of the portfolio.
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Source: Ambito
