In Costa Rica, it is estimated that nearly $6 million is lost each year because of theft and illicit piecing of cattle on the country's farms.
The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) reports 37,427 head of cattle stolen or cut up between January 2007 and November 2018, with a unit value of around $670 (400,000 colones). According to businessmen in the sector, the main problem is that many of the thefts are not reported by the cattle ranchers, making it even more difficult to identify the criminals behind the cases.
There were 1,575,779 head of cattle on 45,780 ranches, an increase of 14.2% compared to the figures reported in 2011.
From a press release issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG):
In our country, the cattle herd is 1,575,779 head of cattle and there are 45,780 cattle farms, these are the results of a livestock survey, presented on Tuesday by Gloria Abraham, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) and Leonardo Luconi , President of the Livestock Corporation (CORFOGA).
Following a lengthy certification process, China has opened up to beef imports from Costa Rica, but farmers say they don’t have enough production.
In a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica (COMEX) it was announced that "The authorities of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China (AQSIQ) reported that Costa Rica has been officially included in the list of countries with authorization to export beef to China .... the opening up of China for the export of frozen beef meat is the result of intensive work by the National Animal Health Service, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica (COMEX) and the Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER) to achieve compliance with the requirements for signing the SPS protocols that allow access of Costa Rican agricultural products to the Chinese market. "
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. "
A national survey is to establish the current herd numbers around the country, recording sex and age, and other data.
Costa Rica has about 51,158 cattle farms, but there is only up to date information on some 20,680 farms (only 40%), according to the National Animal Health Service (SENASA).
In order to improve policies related to the livestock sector, it is necessary to update the data, said Leonardo Luconi, president of the Livestock Development Corporation (CORFOGA).