Exclusive Paraguayan Product

By Rodrigo Aguirre, Berkemeyer Attorneys & Counselors

Paraguayan president Mr. Federico Franco has informed representatives of ka'a he'e (Stevia) that the Government enacted a law declaring the plant as the genetic heritage of Paraguay. The law provides for the promotion of national interest, encouragement and incentive to develop research, production, and processing of the plant.

The Ministry of Agriculture is planning to invest over U$2 million for the production of stevia in what remains of 2012 and next year (2013) given that this matter is of utmost interest to farming families in Paraguay.

The Government of Paraguay also announced a huge investment to encourage the cultivation of the natural sweetener. Paraguay has grown some 2,200 hectares of stevia, corresponding to the harvest campaign 2011 - 2012 in the eastern region of the Country.