Since becoming a member of the OECD's Fruit and Vegetables Program (Organization for Economic or Economic Cooperation and Development), in 2019, Brazil will be able to issue an international certificate that attests to the quality of vegetables and fruits.
In practice, certifications can only be made after completion of the first "Training Course for Inspectors in the OECD Scheme for the Application of International Standards for Fruit and Vegetables."
The course will be carried out by Mapa in partnership with Ceagesp, a federal public company important for the supply chain of vegetables and also supported by Abrafrutas. As soon as they complete the course, the 33 participants will be able to issue certifications, especially for the most exported fruit. Among the fruits included in the course schedule are citrus, grapes, apples, and mangoes. "
For Brazil, certification will be equivalent to a business card for the foreign market, especially OECD member countries. The course participants will also have to go through the practical part of the training and learn to identify the non-conformities that disqualify the fruit for commercialization. In these cases, nonconformities refer to the visual aspects of the products, such as apparent, visible damage, which can compromise the quality of these foods.
Source: abrafrutas.org