Response to Import Safety Request

UNCLAS QUITO 002223 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EEB/TPP/ABT PAUL SAXTON TREASURY FOR MMALLOY AND MEWENS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD EAGR EC SUBJECT: Response to Import Safety Request REFTEL: State 114788 ¶1. (U) This is a response cable to State 114788, regarding starting an import safety dialogue with host countries. ¶2. (SBU) EconCouns raised the issue of an import safety dialogue with Foreign Ministry Under Secretary for Trade Mentor Villagomez and shared reftel's talking points. Villagomez undertook to review the matter with his colleagues, but from his limited response it appeared that he (and probably the GOE as a whole) had not considered the safety of imported or exported products on a comprehensive basis. He noted that the GOE might be interested in a dialogue with the U.S. on import safety and that it might be a topic that could be addressed in the forthcoming bilateral Economic Dialogue. In particular, Villagomez wants to ensure that import safety issues do not become an obstacle to Ecuadorian exports. ¶3. (U) Post also shared information on the import safety dialogue with Corpei, Ecuador's public-private export promotion agency. Ricardo Estrada, Executive President of Corpei, noted that Corpei would be willing to host delegations for work on an import safety dialogue and is willing to work with the GOE and USG on the issue. He commented that Corpei is working on promoting traceability in Ecuador, so that products can be traced all the way back to the producer. He also noted that Corpei is working on a project with the Inter-American Development Bank and APHIS to work on sanitary and phytosanitary pest problems, which affect plant safety. ¶4. (U) In the food products area, the Ecuadorian health authority has been working on a number of processes that would improve the safety of exports. Over the past few years, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has made efforts to design and implement a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) system for low-acidified and acidified foods (such as canned fruit and vegetables, and pouched tuna),with some support from USDA and the Food and Drug Administration. However, in order to be implemented, the system requires additional work and economic resources. USDA officials have engaged in preliminary conversations with the MOH regarding this topic with the aim of finding opportunities for interagency cooperation. With the objective of improving the implementation of quality control systems, the GOE is working on issuing a law for the creation of a public-private National Council for Quality (CONCAL). JEWELL