Due to recent seizures of products attempting to enter the country without health permits, an announced has been made of enhanced controls to prevent the entry of any food that does not have the appropriate certifications.
From a statement issued by the Government of Panama:
Pursuant to the Health Standards and / or phytosanitary and health protection of the population, the Panamanian Authority for Food Safety (AUPSA) reiterates that any food product that does not meet the required provisions will be retained, returned or incinerated if necessary.
The Directorate General of Posts has announced a program that would allow SMEs to export goods via mail, providing permission to export via a simplified system.
The initiative of the entity is primarily directed to micro, small and medium-sized exporters.
"... The ‘Exportafácil’ (Easyexport) plan is aimed at individual craftsmen and other organizations so that they can participate in the international market through the implementation of a Simplified Export System using the post service."
Trade ministers from the region are promoting the regional recognition of sanitary permits by its digitization and online availability.
Trade ministers from the region analyzed uploading permissions to a web platform in order to expedite the process of trading regionally. The initiative would allow an exporter registered in Guatemala not to have to send physical documents to another Central American country in order to register.
American Secretary of Agriculture, Edward Schafer, indicated that in order to improve access for the products, they will speed up the processes for phytosanitary approval.
This process "can take years for a plant or animal product to go from one country to another. We hope to improve the system as long as we are guided by scientific standards and not by political or commercial reasons," said Schafer in a press conference at the end of his two day visit to Guatemala.