Once Panama blocked the entry of animal products from Costa Rica, discussions at the technical level progressed, but when the issue was brought to the political arena, the process to solve the trade conflict stalled.
In early July of this year, Panama informed the National Animal Health Service (SENASA), an agency of the Costa Rican Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), about the decision not to extend the authorization for export to a list of Costa Rican establishments previously authorized and that have been commercializing in the Panamanian market for many years.
In Nicaragua evaluation will be given to the solutions proposed by Dos Pinos regarding noncompliance detected in the plant and Costa Rica will be provided with a list of suppliers to LALA dairy farms that meet the standards.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in Costa Rica:
After two days of work between the technical teams of the National Animal Health Service (SENASA) at the Ministry of Agriculture and the Institute for Protection and Animal Health (IPSA) in Nicaragua, Nicaragua and Costa Rica have reached an agreement on resolving the issues of noncompliance found in dairy plants in both countries.
Health authorities in Costa Rica have confirmed that since May they have prevented the entry of products from two dairy plants belonging to the Mexican company Lala in Nicaragua.
After information was circulated about the alleged closure of the Nicaraguan market to dairy products from three companies in Costa Rica, the health authorities of this country have acknowledged that since May 2016 they have restricted the entry of Lala's dairy products , having detected".. . several examples of "non - compliance" in the production system of the two plants inspected. "
At a time when local pork producers are pushing to limit imports, the National Animal Health Service has suspended the import of pork from three processing plants in Chile.
The decision comes after the National Animal Health Service in Chile carried out an inspection of six processing plants exporting pork to Costa Rica. The decision to suspend the three plants is based on an alleged breach of health and safety standards.
In recent years dairy imports increased by between 20% and 30% a year, since China can not meet domestic demand with its own production.
From an article by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
Growing demand for dairy products in China, at present, not can not be met by domestic production, therefore it will remain a major importer of dairy products internationally.
Ten companies producing chickens, eggs and dairy products have received authorizations valid for three years to export to Honduras.
From a press release of the Ministry of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica:
After a series of efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and the National Animal Health Service, Honduran authorities have authorized for three years a dozen Costa Rican plants producing fertile eggs, one day old chicks, frozen chicken and dairy products for export to the market.
Farmers in Colombia and Chile have been certified as eligible to export beef to China, after the lifting of foot and mouth disease restriction on Colombians and the signing of a protocol with the Chileans.
From an article by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
After a memorandum of understanding lifted the foot and mouth disease restrictions for the export of Colombian beef Colombian farmers are now allowed to export this product to China. Similarly, in Chile, the Agriculture Minister Luis Mayol, said in Beijing that the final protocol which establishes the conditions under which the meat will go to China had already been signed, therefore these products are expected to start to enter this market in August 2013 at the latest.
Starting from May 1st new regulations in China came into force which govern inspection, quarantine and supervision of imports and exports of dairy products.
From an article by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China (AQSIQ by its acronym in English) recently released two statements, which regulate Decree No.
Chinese consumers increase their consumption of foreign dairy products because they distrust local brands in light of food safety scandals.
From an article by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
Chinese consumers have shown a tendency to purchase dairy products from foreign countries, because of lack of confidence in local brands after the food safety scandals which occurred in the country.
Plants and establishments producing beef in Costa Rica, are being inspected as a requirement before the opening of the Peruvian market for this product.
From Monday 18 to Friday 22, the technical mission from the South American country, will be inspecting establishments such as Visión Comercial, Coopemontecillos, Ganaderos Industriales de Costa Rica and Frionet. The review is part of the certification process to export beef to that country.
The country does not have a unique product tracking system suited to current demands, where traceability is critical in order to compete in the market.
International buyers as well as laws in the European Union and the U.S., require exporting countries to have a traceability system, through which the entire product journey and details can be known, in order to find out how to act in the event of any irregularities.
The Agriculture Ministry of Costa Rica announced it will impede the entrance of meat from Uruguay, arguing sanitary risks.
However, in contradictory statements, Gerardo Vicente, director of the Costa Rican Animal Health Service (Service), expressed that studies analyzing Uruguayan meat exports have not discovered any problems with the product, and they could not foresee the need for a future health barrier.