The Peruvian government hopes a fumigation standards agreement with Australia will help open up opportunities on the continent and in other parts of the Asia-Pacific.

Peru's National Agricultural Health Service (SENASA) and Biosecurity Australia have signed an agreement under the Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme (AFAS), which is designed to improve the performance, technical expertise and compliance of foreign suppliers.

The Andean country's deputy agriculture minister Juan Rheineck Piccardo, said the aim of the agreement was to develop and implement biosecurity initiatives to reduce food health risks.

He added the agreement helped harmonize the fumigation of agricultural products in the two countries, as well as in the Asia-Pacific and the Caribbean, while it would also help prevent the entry and spread of pests within both countries.

The agreement was signed by Australia's Ambassador to Peru, John Woods and SENASA chief Óscar Domínguez Falcón.

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