Brazil getting ready to export ginger to the EU under new phytosanitary requirements

On Sep 16, 2026

The ginger sector in Brazil is going through one of the most challenging years on record, with prices falling below the cost of production and difficult conditions for international trade. Against this backdrop, a new European Union phytosanitary regulation for ginger is coming into force on October 15, aimed at limiting the risk posed by the bacterium Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum. Leonarda Maria Plaster, president of the Brazilian cooperative Coopginger (Espírito Santo), explains how her organization has dealt with this regulatory change and what impact she expects for the sector.

An abrupt shift for the market
According to Plaster, the new regulation “is having a major impact, because it brings a very abrupt change,” requiring a number of adjustments to meet the new requirements. “Not all growers will be able to adapt, and not all exporters will manage to do so within the timeframe set, so there will be a reduction of the volumes” available on the market, she says. That reduction in supply, however, could prove “favorable for the ginger market” and allow prices to recover.

Getting ready ahead of the deadline
Coopginger says it didn’t wait for the regulation’s entry into force to get everything ready. “The cooperative is already prepared to ship ginger to the European Union in compliance with the new phytosanitary requirements,” says the organization. The new framework “will require registration and monitoring of production areas, inspections, laboratory testing, and a level of documentary organization that is not yet part of the day-to-day reality for all growers and exporters.”

Field work includes the standardization of production units, providing technical support, carrying out inspections, and collecting representative samples for Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum testing. There should also be a solid traceability system that links the product not only to the producer, but also to the area where it was grown and the phytosanitary inspections that were conducted.

Institutional cooperation as a cornerstone
With more than 200 associated family growers, Coopginger highlights the cooperative’s central role as a facilitator of the process, given the requirement that production comes from areas registered and supervised by the phytosanitary authority of the country of origin. The organization stresses that “adapting to the new rules does not depend on a single actor” and will require “cooperation between growers, cooperatives, technical assistance providers, the phytosanitary authority, laboratories, and Government.” To that end, it is working in coordination with IDAF, Incaper, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA), and the Government of the State of Espírito Santo.

Higher costs, especially for family farming operations
The cooperative confirmed that the new controls will result in higher costs due to the need for registrations, technical oversight, laboratory testing, and specialized personnel. This is an impact they consider “particularly significant for family farming operations,” which is why Coopginger, together with other sector bodies, is exploring alternatives to reduce the financial and operational burden on small growers. The cooperative says that its GLOBALG.A.P. certification, in place since 2022, and its prior experience in traceability and quality control have given it a solid foundation from which to navigate this transition.

European customers keeping a close eye on supply
European importers are closely following the process. Coopginger says it has been receiving inquiries, mainly about the possibility of continuing to supply after the regulation comes into force, as well as requests relating to certificates, supplier declarations, test results, and phytosanitary guarantees. In response to these concerns, the cooperative says it is committed to “transparency and consistent information about what is being done in every stage, from the field through to the product’s export.”

To its European customers, the cooperative is conveying a message of “security, readiness, and continuity,” which it says is the result of joint work between growers, technicians, laboratories, and public bodies. Leonarda is also confident that the combination of lower available volumes and a gradual improvement in market conditions in Europe will help “growers have better profit margins and ensure that their product’s value is in line with the investment made.”

CoopGinger will be at Fruit Attraction Madrid
Would you like to find out more about our Brazilian ginger range? Schedule a meeting with our team during the show and discover our products and collaboration opportunities first-hand.

Book your meeting: +55 27 99911 6502

For more information:
Leonarda Maria Plaster
CoopGinger
Brazil
Tel.: +55 27 99911 6502
[email protected]
www.coopginger.com.br

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