Lentils from the US, beans from Holland, quinoa from Mexico and chayote from Costa Rica are among the grains and species that can be imported into Panama from now on.
The Panamanian Authority for Food Security has granted permits to import from nine countries grains and species such as flaxseed, chia seeds, and others.
Arguing that the labeling does not really reflect the content of the product, the Panamanian government has suspended the entry of evaporated milk from the Pura Vida brand, from Grupo Gloria from Peru.
The decision was taken by the Panamanian Food Authority (Aupsa) after the National Association of Cattlemen reported that the market was trading imported milk that was sold as evaporated milk"...
The Panamanian Food Safety Authority has announced that from February 2015 health records of imported foods will be handled digitally for all countries.
From a statement issued by from the Panamanian Food Safety Authority (UPSA):
In order to improve control systems and procedures, the General Manager of the Panamanian Food Safety Authority (AUPSA), Dr.
The producer group is asking the government to put imports in order, strengthen phytosanitary requirements and reform the law that created the National Food Authority.
Capital.com.pa reports that "The issue of imports continues to hit producers and their regulation is one of the requirements of the newly created ‘Pro-Rescate’ (Pro-Rescue) Group of the Agricultural Sector, but it is a sensitive issue, which has to be at the highest level, because this was one of the risks of globalization policies and signing FTAs and changing the rules of the game again now is not easy. Among the main demands of the Group is to sort out imports, strengthen phytosanitary requirements and reform the law that created the National Food Authority (Auspa). "
The country has lifted the restriction on entry of fruits and vegetables, fresh or chilled, from Colombia.
The action taken by the Panamanian Food Safety Authority (AUPSA), suspends the restriction imposed since August 2008 which was instigated due to the repeated presence of pests in shipments.
According to an article in Prensa.com "’After several field tests and a visit by Panamanian technicians to Colombia, the protocol that ensures that these foods are free of pests was approved’, said Alcides Jaén, Aupsa administrator."
Panamanian authorities have banned the importation of this fruit to prevent the spread of the pest Tuta absoluta.
Although Costa Rica has not reported any cases of the infestation, known in the agricultural industry as tomato moth (polilla del tomate), the Panamanian authorities have decided as a preventative measure to stop the entry of tomatoes from the neighboring country, from where most of the tomatos consumed in Panama come from.
Frozen fruits and vegetables coming from Guatemala will be stopped at the Panamanian border.
The decision was taken by the AUPSA, the Panamanian Food Health Authority, who explained it as an “emergency food health measure”.
From Laestrella.com.pa: “During an inspection conducted by AUPSA, they found traces of the Frankliniella occidentalis virus in fruits and vegetables from Guatemala.
The country has temporarily suspended all imports of fresh or refrigerated potatoes from Europe.
The measure, ordered by Aupsa, the Panamanian Food Safety Authority, is in response to a disease affecting the tuber (soft rot - Dickeya solani).
"Aupsa warned that soft rot is affecting Europe's potato production, and that it is necessary to protect the nation's agricultural production and patrimony", reported Prensa.com.
The southern countries, which are known around the world for the excellence and full flavor of their beef, seek to enter the market.
Both countries are now complying with the necessary procedures at the Panamanian Authority of Food Safety (Aupsa).
The journalist Ana María Garzón writes in her article in Prensa.com: "To import animal products, Aupsa requires that the country be eligible based on its sanitation conditions and that they have the necessary approvals, explained Humberto Bermúdez, the national director of Importing Standards."
Panama announced on Wednesday that it is banning the import of fresh or refrigerated fruits and vegetables from Colombia due to the "repeated presence of pests in their shipments."
The decision was announced in a release from the Panama Food Safety Authority (AUPSA), signed by the General Manager of the institution, Gilberto Real.
"We don't want to take anyone by surprise.