Despite warnings in Costa Rica that there was a deficit in the budget of Senasa, the institution in charge of applying tests to exported and imported meats, the authorities assure that the execution of these tests will not be interrupted.
A few days ago, the livestock sector had warned that the entity could be forced to suspend the tests applied to meat products, a situation that could affect the health of consumers.
With the new laboratory for the analysis of toxic residues of bovine, porcine and poultry meat, which will begin to operate as of March 2021, Panama will be able to begin exporting to the US market.
Due to the fact that the country so far lacks a laboratory to certify the quality of the meat, Panama cannot export to the United States, however, authorities announced that next year the situation will change.
Some of the requirements for companies exporting food from Guatemala are that exporters guarantee good sanitary practices and that in case of an outbreak of covid-19 they notify their buyers and separate infected collaborators.
Safety and health protocols have taken off in this new trade scenario, which emerged suddenly due to the spread of covid-19 around the world.
Adapt the country's sanitary norms to international standards and unify food import and export systems is part of the plan proposed by the Varela administration.
In order to take advantage of commercial agreements and increase exports to the European and North American markets, the government is working to consolidate its health systems.
The Panamanian Association of Exporters (Apex) CEO, Rosmer Jurado, said to Elcapitalfinanciero.com that "… the government's decision to initiate the process of unification and modernization of the country's health system is key to ensure that importers and exporters fulfill the same standards, so that consumers are assured that imported products meet the same quality requirements as domestic production, ensuring their safety."
Problems related to health and safety come top the list of reasons why shipments of Guatemalan products are rejected in the US and Europe.
Pesticides, labeling, salmonella, processing, lack of information, products, lack of list of ingredients, aflatoxins and mislabelling, are in order the main causes of rejection by the FDA in the US.
The deadline for ruling on applications for simplified registrations is now 5 working days from the moment the application is submitted, and validity of the registry of cosmetics and low risk foods has been extended to five years.
The simplified registration process for cosmetics and food is as follows:
"... The deadline for the resolution of simplified registrations is 5 working days from the submission of the complete application by the administrator. "
An extension until August 28 has been given to the deadline for importers to update the documentation required by the Panamanian Food Safety Authority.
From a statement issued by the Panamanian Authority for Food Safety:
Panama City / As part of the technological modernization being developed by the Panamanian Food Safety Authority (AUPSA), added to the suspension of the reception of digital applications for Registration of Pre-packaged Foods which started today and continues until next Monday 24 August, the company is extending the deadline for importers to update their documentation required by resolutions No. 031-AG-2015 042-AG-2015.
On August 22nd the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will host a free webinar on the proposed new regulatory framework and standards of food safety.
From a statement issued by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica (Procomer):
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency will be conducting a webinar (online seminar) for free and in English, with emphasis on information of interest to small businesses on Friday 22 August.
From June 21 to May 30 the Guatemalan Exporters Association will give a program on food safety, workplace safety and hygiene in the workplace.
From a statement issued by the Guatemalan Exporters Association (Agexport):
In order to help companies and producers meet the highest levels of compliance with quality, safety, and workplace safety and environmental hygiene, the School of Foreign Trade, will be holding a post Graduate course on Safety and environmental management in international trade from 21 June 2014 to 30 May 2015 ."
A proposal has been made in to parliament for a new law creating a central body to control, eradicate and manage pests and diseases in plants and animals in the country.
From an article by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
The Indian Agriculture Minister, Sarad Pawar, sent a new law to the parliament of his country, which will create a central agency, the Agricultural Biosecurity Authority of India (ABAI), in order to predict, control, eradicate and manage pests and diseases in plants and animals.
The "Safe Food for Canadians Act" strengthens controls by including the registration of importers as well as a ban on imports of unsafe food products.
A statement from the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER) reads:
Canada pushes new food safety law
The new Food Security Act of Canada is focused on improving the supervision of food safety, modernizing legislative authorities and expanding market opportunities, this legislation has already been approved by the Canadian Senate and will take effect after final approval .
A new regulation governing food additives in products exported to the European Union will be applied from December 1st, 2012.
From a statement by Procomer:
Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 of the European Commission, establishing specifications for food additives listed in Annexes II and III of Regulation (CE) No. 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and Council will apply from 1st December 2012, with exceptions.
From March new requirements imposed by the Food and Drug Administration will be implemented progressively on food imported by the United States.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will begin to implement requirements for a new Food Safety Law relating to products exported to the country from March.
Among other changes, from now on there will be stricter rules on labeling, improved hygiene conditions, prohibition of certain elements in food preparation and nutritional information.
The country has a new veterinary diagnostic and food microbiology laboratory.
The center in located in San José de la Cañada, at kilometer 10.5 of Old Road to León, will help ensure the safety of exported food.
"Onel Perez, president of the Nicaraguan Chamber of Industry Beef Exports (Canicarne), considers the construction and operation of the new laboratory, which will help serve the needs of increasing agricultural production, of "trancendental importance".