Reports of African Swine Fever in Asia alert countries in the region to strengthen border controls, especially in the management of food waste from airplanes and ships.
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) urged the strengthening of animal health and public and private veterinary services in the member states to prevent the recurrence of African swine fever (ASF) in the region, the institution warned in a statement.
Between the first five months of 2018 and the same period in 2019, the slaughter of cattle in Panama increased 4%, while that of pigs decreased 8%.
The most recent report of the General Comptroller of the Republic of Panama details that in the first five months of the year 137,636 head of cattle were slaughtered, a figure higher than the 132,136 reported in the same period of 2018.
Between the first four months of 2018 and the same period in 2019, the number of cattle slaughtered in Panama increased 4%, while the slaughter of pigs decreased 7%.
The latest figures from the Office of the General Comptroller of the Republic of Panama detail that in the first four months of the year 108,750 head of cattle were slaughtered, a figure higher than the 104,174 reported in the same period of 2018.
Panama notified the international organization of its decision to initiate a safeguard investigation into certain cuts of fresh, chilled or frozen pork.
According to Resolution No. 003 of May 3, 2019, published in the Gaceta Oficial (Official Gazette), the Panamanian government ordered "to begin an investigation for the possible imposition of safeguard measures to the product Pork meat, fresh, chilled or frozen; in carcasses or half carcasses, bone-in or boneless, fit for human consumption, requested by the Asociación Nacional de Porcinoculturoes de Panamá (ANAPOR)."
Guatemalan authorities will meet with a committee of the World Organization for Animal Health, in order to declare the country free of classical swine fever and restart foreign sales.
The restrictions date back many years, since in 2011 the countries of the region established barriers to the entry of pork from Guatemala, after the presence of Classical Swine Fever was detected.
The government ordered the start of an administrative investigation to determine whether safeguard measures on pork imports are warranted.
According to Resolution No. 003 of May 3, 2019, published in La Gaceta Oficial, "it is ordered to initiate an investigation for the possible imposition of safeguard measures to the product Meat of pigs, fresh, chilled or frozen; in carcasses or half carcasses, bone-in or boneless, fit for human consumption, requested by the National Association of Pig Producers of Panama (ANAPOR)."
Between the first quarter of 2018 and the same period in 2019, the number of cattle slaughtered in Panama increased 6%, while the slaughter of pigs decreased 7%.
The most recent data from the General Comptroller of the Republic of Panama detail that in the first three months of the year 82,279 head of cattle were slaughtered, a figure higher than the 78,015 reported in the same period of 2018.
Arguing that the import quota allocated for this year was reached, Panama applied a special safeguard measure on certain fractions of pork products originating in the USA.
The measure applies to pork in carcasses or half carcasses, legs, shoulders, and their bone-in pieces, hams, and pork ribs, so now importers will have to pay a regular tariff of between 40% and 70% to import pork from the aforementioned U.S. country.
In Honduras, annual per capita consumption is estimated at 11 pounds, but by 2025 producers expect the figure to rise to 18 pounds.
Figures from the National Association of Pig Farmers of Honduras (Anapoh) detail that during 2018 the consumption of pork in the country reached 103 million pounds, of which about 36 million pounds were produced locally, and the remaining volume was imported, mainly from the U.S.
Between the first two months of 2018 and the same period in 2019 the number of cattle slaughtered in Panama increased 6%, while the slaughter of pigs decreased 5%.
The most recent data from the General Comptroller of the Republic of Panama detail that in the first two months of the year 55,274 head of cattle were slaughtered, a figure higher than the 296,703 reported in the same period of 2018.
The 52% of the total cattle registered in the country corresponds to animals for meat production, 16% to dairy cattle and 31% for double purpose.
The National Agricultural Survey (ENA 2017), carried out by the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC), details that among the main results was found that the country has 1,497,551 head of cattle.
Last year, the number of cattle slaughtered in Panama reported no significant change from 2017, while the slaughter of pigs increased 9%.
The latest report of the General Comptroller of the Republic of Panama details that last year 323,326 head of cattle were slaughtered, a similar figure to the 322,946 reported in 2017.
Between January and November 2018, the number of slaughtered cattle remained unchanged from the same period in 2017, while the number of pigs slaughtered increased by 9%.
The latest figures from the General Comptroller of the Republic of Panama detail that in the first eleven months of the year 297,790 head of cattle were slaughtered, a figure similar to the 296,703 reported in the same period of 2017.
Varela administration signed 19 agreements with the Asiatic giant, including the meat, sea and fruit exports from Panama, and technological cooperation mechanisms.
In addition to the Free Trade Agreement between the two nations, the fourth round of negotiations took place weeks ago, and within the framework of the visit of Chinese President Xin Jinping to Panama, bilateral agreements on tourism, trade and agriculture were signed.
Between January and October 2018 and the same period in 2017, the number of slaughtered animals was unchanged, while the number of pigs slaughtered increased by 10%.
According to the latest data from the General Comptroller of Panama, in the first ten months of the year, 270.120 head of cattle were slaughtered, a similar figure to the 270.134 reported in the same period of 2017.