Argentina's restrictions for the Brazilian fruit market have intensified with the country suspending import licenses for apples and raisins to protect local producers, news agency Reuters reported.

Ten perishable products have lost their automatic licences including wine, cheese, potatoes and flour, which although applied to all countries, is expected to hit Argentina the hardest.

It is estimated it could take up to 60 days for Argentine produce without an automatic licence to enter the country.

Mendoza fruit growers are reporting greater difficulty over exporting grapes, pears and plums to Brazil, which they claim is due to an extension of phytosanitary controls.

The Association of Producers and Exporters of Fresh Fruits (Aspeff) representative Daniel Brunetti said shipments of plums and grapes had virtually stopped.

"It's quite difficult. For apples we have to have a licence and for pears the controls are unconventional they spread the charges and all movements are delayed. This is something we have to check every day as you never know when there are changes," he was quoted as saying in Losandes.com.ar.

Aspeff explained to the Argentine government the border to Brazil was effectively closed because Argentine grapes were unable to withstand the required quarantine requirements.

The tighter controls are interpreted as retaliation for the Argentina imposing barriers on Brazilian pork imports three months ago to that led to an 80% drop in shipments.

Argentine Interior Commerce Secretary Guillermo Moreno and Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman will travel to Brazil to try and defuse the situation.

Related stories: Brazil suspends Argentine grape imports

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