The National Animal Health Service has identified an outbreak in a cattle farm in Puriscal, Province of San Jose, where it has established sanitary and quarantine measures.
From a statement issued by the National Animal Health Service (SENASA):
The National Animal Health Service (SENASA), at the Ministry of Agriculture, has detected an outbreak of bovine paralytic rabies in a farm located in Puriscal, in the district of Mercedes Sur, specifically in the village Quebrada Honda, in the Province of San Jose, where a bovine has died.
Approval has been given to the creation of a global system of digital certification to control pests and plant diseases which can spread during international trade.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer):
The Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), the governing body of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), consisting of 181 countries, has approved the creation of a new global electronic certification system called E-Phyto, which will help stop the spread of pests and diseases via agricultural products transported in international trade, in a way that is safer and cheaper.
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.
Due to the detection of new risks in some plant products coming from Asian countries, increased controls have been placed on foodstuffs entering from abroad.
From statement by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica (PROCOMER):
In recent weeks, the European Union (EU) has seen the need to increase controls to ensure food security in the EU market.
Chinese health authorities are inspecting plants and pineapple farms in the country as part of the process of market opening for the Costa Rican fruit.
In addition to inspections on farms and plants, a technical mission to China has verified health checks undertaken by the laboratories of the State Phytosanitary Service. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, "...Costa Rica's successful entry could result in a need to expand the amount of land planted with this fruit, which is currently 45,000 hectares. "
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued new phytosanitary requirements for tomato shipments to the country.
From a statement issued by the State Phytosanitary Service, Costa Rica:
The Department of Agriculture (USDA), through Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Service (APHIS) has issued an update on the Federal Order on Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), affecting Costa Rica.
Industrialists say prices will keep rising due to shortages caused by the impairment of entry of shipments of red beans from Nicaragua and China.
The shortage of grain in the region and phytosanitary controls which have blocked the entry of shipments of Nicaraguan beans which have traces of soil on them is affecting prices in the domestic market, which have already risen about a dollar per kilo since the first import was stopped in February.
The rule adopted by the Council of Ministers of Economic Integration aims to eliminate border controls and forces companies to give a 15 working days notice for imports and exports.
Crhoy reports that "...Some representatives of the private sector in Central America have criticized a directive which came into effect this month, which imposes new phytosanitary measures for exports and imports, which was approved by the Council of Ministers of Economic Integration (Comieco). ". ..In contrast, Costa Rican exporters "... say they have had no problems at the moment and they are ready, in fact they recognize that it will facilitate trade."
The Costa Rican Chamber of the Food Industry has reiterated the existence of problems in importing, exporting or launching new products, and with the financial controls at points of sale.
Managers of the business association pointed to "... lack of vision and political will in some public institutions such as the Ministry of Health."
Industrialist point out that the declaration of shortage of grain by the government has failed to solve the problem in the local market, where the price of a kilo has increased by $1.
The National Association of Manufacturers of Beans in Costa Rica (Anifri) argues that the change in the verification of phytosanitary measures by the Ministry of Agriculture is the cause of the grain shortages and price increases in the country.
The Costa Rican agribusiness sector has indicated that a phytosanitary law is being interpreted without technical or medical reasons to support the rejection of the entry of 100 containers of Nicaraguan beans.
The National Association of Bean Manufacturers (Anifri) insists that the Ministry of Agriculture should review the Phytosanitary Act and reconsider the way in which they are exercising controls on grain containers entering from Nicaragua, a country from which most of the beans consumed in the country are imported.
The Government is analysing whether to declare a shortage of beans and authorize the entry, of zero tariff grain from countries outside of Central America.
A study which quantifies purchase inventories that industrialists have made to local producers, will be used as a basis for the National Production Council (CNP) to determine the amount and type of grain to be imported and recommend to the institutions responsible whether they should declare a shortage. Once the declaration has been made and in accordance with the Act 8763, there would be no tariffs applied on the import of beans from countries outside of Central America with countries which have international treaties that are in force.
Costa Rican importers are demanding solutions after health checks prevented the entry of 20 thousand kilos of Nicaraguan red beans because they contained traces of soil.
The Nicaraguan union is complaining that the Costa Rican State Phytosanitary Service banned the entry of about 20 trucks carrying red beans after finding traces of dirt and sticks in the shipments.