Due to the contraction in domestic production, it is estimated that by the end of the year beef imports will have risen by 19% compared to 2013.
From statement issued by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica (PROCOMER):
An increase is expected in imports of beef in the United States
According to data from the Economic Research Service of the Department of Agriculture (USDA), it is expected that imports of beef at the end of the year will have a total volume of about 2.684 million pounds, which represents a increase of 19% compared to 2013. The USDA also estimates that this behavior could be maintained for 2015 and the year could end with an increase of 0.6%.
An announcement has been made that the South American country has been authorized to export a type of beef produced without hormones or antibiotics, endorsed by the Department of Agriculture.
From a statement issued by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica (Procomer):
The Department of Agriculture (USDA has authorized Uruguay to deliver a new meat product, according to the Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) of this country, Tabaré Aguerre.
American health authorities have lifted the restriction on the import of meat from the province of Patagonia, Argentina, in force since 2001.
From a statement issued by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica (Procomer):
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the Department of Agriculture of the United States announced the lifting of the ban that was placed on beef imports from Argentina more than 13 years ago.
The number of cattle held by the largest producer of beef in the world is the lowest in the past 63 years, leading to futures prices in January rising to $1,432 per pound of meat.
In the U.S., a shortfall in the amount of livestock is negatively affecting this year's meat production, which is expected to be the lowest in the last two decades, according to the Department of Agriculture (USDA). This industry is worth about $85 billion.
A new law establishes that labels must identify the country or countries where every step of production took place, such as birth, rearing and slaughter of the animal.
From an article by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a final rule to amend the provisions of labeling for cuts of beef under the program Country of Origin Labeling (COOL).
It has been projected that in 2013 global beef exports will grow by 7.6%, approaching 9 million tons.
From an article by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
Projections for 2013 indicate that the expansion of international trade of beef will continue, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), world beef exports will grow by 7.6% and will be located around 9 million tons.
The United States Department of Agriculture will apply a new system to examine meat for drugs, pesticides and other harmful agents.
A statement from the Trade Office of Costa Rica (PROCOMER) reads:
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued new regulations for beef and chicken.
The United States Department of Agriculture recently issued new regulations for residues of veterinary drugs in meat from chicken and beef sold in this country.
Agricultural analysts fear falling prices, and meat importers, potential health consequences.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed a fourth case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), popularly known as mad cow disease in a dairy cow in central California, reported the AFP.
"Agricultural analysts stressed that this issue is ‘not positive’ for the price of corn, the cereal consumed by cattle.
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.