In order to take advantage of the potential of the Nicaraguan livestock industry, it is essential that traceability systems be improved, a prerequisite for entering demanding markets such as Europe.
The growth in exports of meat and meat products from Nicaragua could be even greater if product monitoring and control systems were properly implemented throughout the production chain.The European market is one of the most demanding in this regard, and is one of the most profitable once the necessary traceability systems are implemented.
The requirements for sanitation and traceability are preventing the livestock sector from taking advantage of quotas for meat exports duty free to Europe.
Although the Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union established a quota of 4,800 tonnes per year of rice and a quota of 1,533 tonnes per year of meat, which could enter Europe without incurring tariffs, neither sector has been able to take advantage of them completely.
In the difficult route to increase the sector's sales abroad, the country has so far managed to register 58% of the cattle herd.
The advanced comes after five years of efforts between the authorities and trade associations to have included in their records 22% of cattle farms in the country and 58% of cattle organizations, but industry representatives believe that there is still much to be done to meet the traceability requirements that are impeding the entry of Nicaraguan meat products into some markets, including the European Union (EU).
Lack of cattle traceability is preventing the food industry from comply with the amendments to the rules on labeling of meat products.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Chamber of the Food Industry:
We are opposed to the excessive and unjustified requirements on meat labeling.
The Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC) initiated a series of actions to enable consumers to know the conditions under which meats are handled and processed, which led to reforms to the technical regulation on labeling of meat.
A pilot project aims to provide funding and technical assistance to a group of food producers in order to improve their livestock and increase quality.
The purpose of the project, still in its test phase, is for farmers to use the same milk extracted from cows to feed calves instead of selling it at low prices in the local market. The plan includes providing technical assistance to implement traceability plans and in this way increase the possibility of exporting meat to EU markets.
An announcement has been made that all animals born after 2015 must be registered so that, by 2020, the herd can be incorporated into the regional traceability system.
Cattle traceability was approved in March 2013 by the Central American countries and the Dominican Republic and aims to make known the "history" of all cattle, from birth to arrival at the slaughterhouse.
The main factors are a herd of 5.8 million head of cattle, programs which give impetus to the activity, and the opportunities provided by the AA with the EU.
According to breeders and industry to date number of cattle could be higher than that amount recorded in the IV National Agricultural Census (4.2 million head). Onel Pérez, executive director of the Nicaraguan Chamber of Beef Exports (Canicarne) , currently estimated that the herd could be 5.8 million head.
The Nicaraguan livestock sector's use of the Agreement with the European Union depends on the full implementation of the traceability of every kilo of meat exported.
With the support of the Inter-American Development Bank local livestock traceability will be promoted by the Trazar-Nic project.
The project which is also being sponsored by the Association of Producers and Exporters of Nicaragua (APEN), is directed by the engineer Leonardo Garcia, who was interviewed by Ricardo Guerrero from Elnuevodiario.com.
The Nicaraguan meat industry is still not clear on what they need to obtain the certifications required by the European market.
In order for Nicaraguan products to reach the European market they must comply with health and quality certifications, not only on behalf of the farmers but also the agricultural authorities. Exporters hope that this will be resolved in less than a year and a half, meaning that the benefits of the agreement could be taken advantage of in 2015.
Nicaragua will need a minimum of a year to implement an adequate traceability system which will allow it to export meat to Europe.
"First certification must come from Europe, which says that they accept our system of traceability, and we must be prepared (to export) when the time comes," said the president of the Nicaraguan Chamber of Beef Exports (Canicarne) Juan Sebastián Chamorro.
The Central American Federation for the Beef Industry is promoting the creation of traceability protocols that would allow them to export meat to the EU.
Regional leaders in the cattle industry and beef marketers "came together to promote the creation of a traceability protocol that would allow them to export meat to the EU."
Christopher Navas, president of the Federation, said: "We met to discuss the problem of the meat sector in Central America, seeing as the agreement for a free association with the European community has been signed, and that gives countries in the region the right to export a quota of meat. However, to do this we have to meet certain requirements. "
Lack of livestock traceability is preventing access of meat to the European market, for which there is a quota of 9,000 tons.
The biggest challenge facing the region is to meet the health, environmental and competitiveness standards demanded by those markets, said Alexander Acosta, from the United Nations Organization for Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The IDB will support the country in developing the capabilities of a system of traceability of beef exports.
The announcement was made by the representative of the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) in Nicaragua, Mirna Lievano in a "Traceability" workshop, which was held in the country.
The IDB representative said that the National Cattle Traceability Program will contribute to the country’s agricultural development.
The Ministry of Agriculture will receive experts from Uruguay to advise on the subject next week.
The traceability system involves maintaining and making available animal identification details and registration of all activities to which it is subjected, from birth until the meat reaches the consumer.
The director of the National Service of Agricultural Health (SENASA), Heriberto Amador, said in an article in Latribuna.hn,."We are concerned about carrying out this process of providing traceability in the Honduran herd in order to meet export product conditions of international trade and trading partnerships."