Once Panama blocked the entry of animal products from Costa Rica, discussions at the technical level progressed, but when the issue was brought to the political arena, the process to solve the trade conflict stalled.
In early July of this year, Panama informed the National Animal Health Service (SENASA), an agency of the Costa Rican Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), about the decision not to extend the authorization for export to a list of Costa Rican establishments previously authorized and that have been commercializing in the Panamanian market for many years.
After the first case of paralytic rabies in cattle was confirmed in Coto Brus, the authorities decided to quarantine the farm that houses 110 cattle.
Because the National Animal Health Service (Senasa) confirmed the death of a cattle that was affected by this disease, the movement of any cattle from the farm located in Puntarenas province was prohibited.
Starting from November 24 of this year, new guidelines will be in effect governing requirements and conditions for transporting pigs in the country.
Directive SENASA-DG-D001-2017, published on August 24, officialized the new "Official Guide for Transporting Porcine Cattle," which will constitute the new regulations for transporting pigs from 24 November.
84 thousand hectares of crops were flooded and 67 thousand kilos of trout and tilapia, 24 thousand hens and about 7 thousand tons of sugar were lost because of storm Nate.
The impact of the climate phenomenon was felt in most agricultural activities in the country, and although shortages are not foreseen in sectors such as rice and sugar, in others supply could be affected in the coming months.
Senasa has started the process of registration and updating information on subsistence, small, medium and large pig farms in the country.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture:
As part of the implementation of the Control System for Mobilization and Traceability of pigs from the beginning of this year 2017, the National Animal Health Service (SENASA) at the Ministry of Agriculture, is carrying out, in regional offices, registration and updating of information of existing pig farms in the country (subsistence / backyard, small, medium and large) in the Integrated Registration System for Agricultural Establishments (SIREA by its initials in Spanish), with registration of establishments composing the first stage established in the implementation of the traceability system for the pig sector.
Health authorities in Costa Rica have given their endorsement to two plants belonging to Grupo Lala in Nicaragua so that they can once again market their products.
The authorization for Grupo Lala comes at about the same time as the authorization granted by Nicaragua to theentry of products from the Costa Rican company Dos Pinos, ending a conflict which for several months affected the performance of the sector in both countries.
In Nicaragua evaluation will be given to the solutions proposed by Dos Pinos regarding noncompliance detected in the plant and Costa Rica will be provided with a list of suppliers to LALA dairy farms that meet the standards.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in Costa Rica:
After two days of work between the technical teams of the National Animal Health Service (SENASA) at the Ministry of Agriculture and the Institute for Protection and Animal Health (IPSA) in Nicaragua, Nicaragua and Costa Rica have reached an agreement on resolving the issues of noncompliance found in dairy plants in both countries.
Health authorities in Costa Rica have confirmed that since May they have prevented the entry of products from two dairy plants belonging to the Mexican company Lala in Nicaragua.
After information was circulated about the alleged closure of the Nicaraguan market to dairy products from three companies in Costa Rica, the health authorities of this country have acknowledged that since May 2016 they have restricted the entry of Lala's dairy products , having detected".. . several examples of "non - compliance" in the production system of the two plants inspected. "
Due to delays in the issuance of health certificates from the Animal Health Service a company that exports sweeteners has failed to get its product into Mexico.
The company Sweetwell claims it has two 40 ton containers detained in Mexico because it did not have two certifications that should have been issued by the Animal Health Service days ago. Carlos Mateo, CEO of Sweetwell told Nacion.com "...
At a time when local pork producers are pushing to limit imports, the National Animal Health Service has suspended the import of pork from three processing plants in Chile.
The decision comes after the National Animal Health Service in Chile carried out an inspection of six processing plants exporting pork to Costa Rica. The decision to suspend the three plants is based on an alleged breach of health and safety standards.
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.
Ornamental plants are part of agricultural export products to be exhibited from 12 to 13 March 2015 in the trade fair Agritrade & Expo 2015, to be held in Antigua.
From a statement issued by the Guatemalan Exporters Association (-AGEXPORT-):
In order to meet the demand for new market niches, the Commission on Ornamental Plants at AGEXPORT is inviting farmers to participate in the agricultural platform AGRITRADE Expo & Conference, an event which will be held on 12 and 13 March 2015 in Santo Domingo Hill, Antigua Guatemala, as there will be very high level buyers who are interested in the sector.
The number of hives in production increased from 26,000 in 2006 to 45,000 in 2013, reaching a total level of honey production of 900 tons in the last year.
The 1,782 beekeepers engaged in honey production in the country managed to increase the productive capacity of the hives implementing techniques such as breeding queens, among other things.
According to the National Beekeeping Programme, at the National Animal Health Service (SENASA), the production numbers "... make Costa Rica self-sufficient as far as honey production is concerned."
Five food exporters are taking advantage of export quotas given by the World Trade Organization to sell their products in Russia.
La Cooperativa de Leche Dos Pinos and Ganaderos Industriales de Costa Rica are two companies who already have sanitation permits to start exporting to Russia and three others are completing the paperwork with the National Animal Health Service (SENASA).