The Salvadoran government has decided to postpone until November 1 the entry into force of new requirements for importers of dairy products.
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
After meeting with the heath authorities in Nicaragua, which is where most of El Salvador's imports come from, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) decided to grant importing companies more time to get up to date with the new health requirements in the new regulations.See "El Salvador Tightens Controls on Dairy Imports"
Elmundo.com.sv reports that "... In July, the MAG announced that from September 1 new import requirements will be in place for Nicaraguan dairy products. The decisionwasprompted after complaints were made by Salvadoranfarmers of an oversupply in the local market, particularly because of Nicaraguan sales, a situation that had already led to the loss of 40% of daily production."
"... The MAG's owner, Orestes Ortez, explained that some measures have been in place since September 1. There are 33 Salvadoran importers and 19 of them have already regularized their processes." The rest have not yet done so. In the meantime they can not bring their products into the country," he told Diario El Mundo. In the minutes of the meeting held on August 21, to which the newspaperEl Mundo had access, it is indicated that they are considering extending the deadline until January 2018."
Despite the new import requirements imposed by the Salvadoran government, in 2017 the Nicaraguan dairy industry managed to maintain the level of its exports to its neighboring country.
Data from a report by Cetrex shows that 2017 will have closed with growth of just 3% in exports of dairy products to El Salvador, which is positive for entrepreneurs in the sector, who in the middle of the year anticipated less favorable figures, due to the entry into force of themore restrictive import controls.
From September on, importers of dairy products must present health and free sale certificates and a laboratory analysis certificate, among other things.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture:
San Salvador, 12/7/17.Today the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock announced a series of measures for the benefit of the dairy sector which were presented at a press conference by the head of the aforementioned State department.
The entry of milk from Nicaragua and Honduras has complicated the situation for Salvadoran producers, who are claiming that they are losing 40% of their daily production due to the presence of the imported product.
The Livestock Association of El Salvador (AGES) is complaining that an increase in the presence of imported milk from neighboring countries has depressed prices, making it difficult for them to sell their product.
In Nicaragua evaluation will be given to the solutions proposed by Dos Pinos regarding noncompliance detected in the plant and Costa Rica will be provided with a list of suppliers to LALA dairy farms that meet the standards.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in Costa Rica: