The Ministry of Agricultural Development's plan involves changes to the health system, incorporating new technology for quality controls. The aim is to deliver, in mid-2017, the equivalency questionnaire to the Food Safety Inspection Services at the US Department of Agriculture.

From a statement issued by the Ministry of Agricultural Development:

The Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA), continuing with its policy of opening new markets for domestic products and in conjunction with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MITI), has made good pace in the adjustments needed in its health system to boost market opening for meat for Costa Rica and the United States, both partners with which Panama has free trade agreements in force.

The commission responsible for preparing the country to export meat to the US, has presented a report on the results after months of effort and coordination in recent days. According to Eduardo Enrique Carles, Minister of Agricultural Development, in the coming weeks he will be personally overseeing the acquisition of new equipment that will allow for quality testing of domestic products on a permanent basis and the creation of a tracking database, "this is not only so we can think about exports but also to ensure the quality of what we as Panamanians consume".

More on this topic

Paraguay Wants to Export Meat to Central America

July 2015

Paraguayan exporters have requested health permits to sell meat to Panama, from where they plan to redistribute it to other countries in the region.

Currently a sanitation mission from Panama is inspecting the health system and industrial facilities in Paraguay, which has the advantage of having authorization to export to the European Union.

United Arab Emirates Certifies Costa Rican Meat

January 2015

An announcement has been made that Costa Rica is now authorized to export beef to the Arab country and negotiations are being held for the sanitation certificate for export, which will be ready in two months.

From a statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Costa Rica:

Panama Wants to Export More Beef to the USA

September 2014

The government is negotiating with health authorities in the US the vetting of new abattoirs in order to adapt to the regulations required in the North American country.  

The negotiations between the Panamanian government and the Office of Agricultural Affairs of the United States could boost exports of beef, which in the first six months of the year fell by 7.3% compared to the same period in 2013, according to figures from the Comptroller General of the Republic.

Singapore Inspects Agroindustrial Plants in Panama

April 2013

The plants to be certified include beef processors and any other agro-industrial plant which intends to export to the Asian country.

According to Jose Pacheco, vice minister of Foreign Trade, this initiative comes on top of efforts being conducted by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) to achieve the parity in the health form documentation with Russia and inspection of local plants by the South Korean authorities, in order to facilitate access of Panamanian beef to these markets.