Guatemalan producers say the Honduran authorities refuse to inspect their plants, preventing them from exporting milk to that market, so they ask the Guatemalan Ministry of Economy to apply reciprocal measures.
According to the directors of the Dairy Development Association (Asodel) and the Chamber of Dairy Producers of Guatemala, with the aim of authorizing sanitary permits, a year ago they waited for the National Agrifood Health and Safety Service (Senasa) of Honduras to visit the production plants, but the Honduran authorities refused to do so.
The National Agricultural Health Service has announced the certification of Honduran cattle for export to El Salvador and Guatemala.
The opening up of the market to Honduran beef came through certification of a Honduran plant based in Siguatepeque, Comayagua.
"We are working with some countries in the region and we have already opened up to El Salvador and we are finishing up the work on the poultry processing plant of Siguatepeque becoming certified by Guatemala", said the Director of SENASA, Heriberto Amador.
Beef exports totaled $30 million in 2011, four times last year's exports.
Honduran meat exports quadrupled last year, reported authorities of the National Agricultural Health Service, SENASA.
2011 closed recording meat exports worth $30 million, compared to 2010 when they only reached $7.8 million, according to figures from SENASA.
"These figures indicate that livestock is on the rise again, and there are other incentives such as the price of milk which reported sustainability, because the prices in winter stayed at 5.50 lempiras per liter ($ 0.29), while in summer, they were 8.50 lempiras ($ 0.44 per liter), motivating farmers", said Heriberto Amador, director of Senasa, in an article in LaPrensa.hn.
The Honduran Health Service has taken action against the outbreak of classical swine fever detected in Guatemala.
The border closure also applies to pork products and byproducts, except those that have had a special heat treatment.
"The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) certified that Honduras is free of classical swine fever thanks to the hard work of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG in Spanish), SENASA and the International Regional Organization for Animal Health (OIRSA in Spanish)", reported Latribuna.hn.
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."
The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has declared the country free of classic swine fever.
Since 2006 the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG), the National Service of Agricultural Health (SENASA) and the International Regional Organization for Animal Health (OIRSA) have worked together to eradicate the disease.
"The losses from this blight this year amounted to four million dollars, so it’s successfully eradication opens a window of opportunity for production and marketing.
Delegations from both countries will visit Honduras to begin the process of certifying production systems.
The information was released by Heriberto Amador from the National Health Service (SENASA).
Currently 80% of meat exports heads for the U.S. market, the rest is sold in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Bolivia.
La Tribuna reported statements by Amador, "Russia and Israel requested our meat for their markets and we are now moving through direct channels in order to establish dates for visits to certify our production system."
Health authorities in Bolivia are in the process of certifying meat packer CyD to begin exports.
The director of the National Service of Agricultural Health (SENASA), Heriberto Amador, told Latribuna.hn that, "Bolivia has certified our country for meat export, which means more work and producers, will find it easier to sell their animals with better prices, thus strengthening the livestock industry."
The livestock authority has confirmed that two factories are to renew exports, having met relevant sanitary requirements.
The restart was achieved through a joint project involving government authorities, businesses and people from the US.
"Authorities predict that exports to the USA will be worth $25 million, strengthening the Honduran economy, social system and the country's sanitary control programs, which are managed by an organization known as Senasa in Spanish. These benefits add credibility to the work done by the current government," comments Elheraldo.hn.
Government and producers are analyzing imported Honduran products that could be affected by tariff measures, in response to restrictions on beef exports.
Laprensa.com.ni reports: "Nicaragua could apply "countervailing measures" on Honduras, in response to the restrictions on Nicaraguan beef exports that the Tegucigalpa applied last week in order to protect its local industry."
Experts from the US Department of Agriculture are helping local exporters to improve the quality of their services.
The regional phytosanitary (Animal and Vegetable Health) coordinator for CAFTA, Daniel Orellana, is in the country to supervise the orientation that Honduran producers are receiving to improve their exports.
Orellana says that the purpose of the mission is to insure food safety (harmlessness) in fresh fruits and vegetables, in addition to ensuring the pasteurization of milk products from Honduras and to guarantee details inspection of meat to ensure safety.