From January 2016 import tariffs will start to be phased out on chicken, rice and milk from the USA, reaching 0% in 2022 and 2025, under the DR-CAFTA agreement.
In Costa Rica local producers say they have been preparing for this for several years, but the country's loss of competitiveness due to high production costs and lack of action by the government to improve on this might prevent them from competing on equal terms.
In 2014 production of 538 million eggs was recorded, an increase of 57% compared with 2005, when there were 342 million.
The annual per capita consumption rose from 102 units in 2005 to 137 in 2014, equivalent to an increase of 34% over the last decade. Marketing experts and poultry farmers attributed the growth in egg consumption mainly to a trend in replacing beef with the poultry products.
Due to the presence of the outbreak of the Newcastle avian disease in the north of Costa Rica, health alerts were activated at the border and entry of poultry from the neighboring country has been banned.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Agricultural Development in Panama (MIDA):
The National Animal Health Service has identified an outbreak of Newcastle velogenic disease in four poultry farms in Guanacaste, where sanitary and quarantine measures have been imposed.
71 sick birds have been reported 65 out which have died from the disease, therefore in order to avoid contagion in nearby farms the movement of animals and poultry in the area has been prohibited. Also checkpoints have been set up to disinfect vehicles leaving the infected area.
Representatives from the poultry sector will meet on August 5th and 6th to discuss issues such as the elimination of chicken imports from the US.
This convention will be held at the Crowne Plaza Convention Center and the participation of over a hundred poultry entrepreneurs, representatives from universities and government authorities is expected. Among the topics to be discussed during the congress is the use of technologies, supplies and services globally applied to the domestic industry.
Chicken breasts and thighs, and evaporated and condensed milk are some of the 37 products in the list whose import tariff has been modified from this month.
On April 24th new importtariffs came into effect for 37 food products, among them parboiled rice, different types of milk and chicken pieces.
The Ministry of Agriculture has declared an alert over animal health and banned the import of eggs and poultry from several US states due to avian influenza detected there.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG):
In order to protect poultry and so that El Salvador is not affected by avian influenza, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) has declared an animal health alert across the country, and prohibited the importeggs and poultry from the United States without proper sanitation procedures.
A report states that three poultry companies in Honduras are requesting permission to sell eggs in neighboring countries.
Honduras' oviparous production exceeds domestic demand, therefore representatives from the Association of Poultry Producers in Honduras are trying to export their products, principally eggs, to Guatemala and El Salvador. Currently three Honduran companies "... are in the process of pre-certification by the relevant health authorities."
The Municipality of Capira has eliminated the recently approved tax of one cent for every load of chicken transported, which was opposed by the poultry sector.
For the third time the Municipality of Capira has failed in its attempt to collect this tax. Even though the tax came into effect in early January, the City Council finally decided to pull back and remove the fee, but has not ruled out review it again in two years time.
Health restrictions have been put in place In Guatemala as well as increased controls in three municipalities in Petén, after the presence of an outbreak of the virus at a poultry farm in Belize was reported.
A cordon has been set up in the municipalities of San Luis, Dolores and Benque Viejo, which are located in the vicinity of the affected areas in Belize. This measure seeks to control the smuggling of products of avian origin which may have been exposed to the virus and in this way prevent it from spreading to farms in the country.
The municipality of Colon has decided to suspend the collection of $100 tax for each truck distributing chicken, which had started on October 7th.
A similar decision was taken in the district of La Chorrera, where "... the mayor said (to producers) that during his administration he will not establish taxes on farmers, producers and agro-exporters".
Poultry Farmers are opposed to the municipal tax in Capira of one cent per transport of each chicken and $100 per truck distributing chicken in the province of Colon.
The new tax would affect consumers, as it would increase production costs and these would be transferred to the final product cost.
US beef, pork and chicken meat produced without the use of antibiotics currently represents 5% of the market and there is a growing demand from consumers.
A preference for meat that has not received antibiotics during its production process is growing in the US, where "... in 2012, 72% of people said they were extremely or very concerned about the widespread use of antibiotics in feed for animals. "
On November 18th and 19th companies in the poultry sector will gather together in Panama City to discuss issues such as trends in egg consumption, new production techniques and marketing.
From a statement issued by the National Association of Poultry Farmers of Panama (ANAVIP):
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