One of the objectives of the law on food safety approved by the National Assembly is to prevent imports of agricultural products during local harvest periods.
From a statement issued by from the National Assembly:
April 26, 2018.The general framework that governs the agricultural sector for food security and sovereignty, through the implementation of an inclusive and sustainable State policy, unanimously was received in a third debate in the plenary session.
A law that is being discussed in the Congress of Costa Rica "would allow associations of activists to decide what individuals will produce, what shops will sell and what consumers are going to eat, with no technical or scientific basis."
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Chamber of the Food Industry:
Deputies push intervention law that will affect food production
Food sovereignty initiatives including price controls, water management and prohibition of agrochemicals are typical examples of a political will being disconnected from the productive reality.
The agricultural sector says that the three bills which are being discussed in the Legislature will have negative effects on the activity, distorting prices and causing costs to rise.One is the draft law on prohibition of agrochemicals, another that on food sovereignty and security and the third, the General Water Law.
The Food Sector Authority has announced new tariffs for technical, sanitary and phytosanitary services which will take effect on 1 April.
From a statement issued by the Panamanian Food Safety Authority:
City of Panama. After several meetings with different associations and the promulgation in the Official Newspaper La Gaceta regarding changes to fees for technical, sanitary and phytosanitary services, the Panamanian Authority for Food Safety (AUPSA), announces that these will become effective from 1 ° of April.
The US Embassy has asked whether the government will support a moratorium of up to 15 years on the cultivation of genetically modified organisms.
In circumstances where the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Costa Rica (MAG) is taking non-tariff measures to restrict imports that compete with local production, the Office of Trade Representative of the United States Embassy in Costa Rica, sent a letter to Minister of Foreign Trade, expressing concern about the issue, specifically pointing to the Minister of Agriculture as a driver of the moratorium.
Non-tariff restrictions applied by the Ministry of Agriculture put into practice its ultra protectionist philosophy, contradicting what the Ministry of Foreign Trade is doing, generating shortages and distorting the market.
An article in Nacion.com reports on how the Minister of Foreign Trade (Comex), Alexander Mora, "... criticized the lack of advanced warning from partner countries of Costa Rica, regarding recent sanitation blockages that prevent products being imported in those markets. "
They import agricultural products directly, involv in their marketing and decree market prices, representing unfair competition to domestic producers.
From a statement issued by the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP):
This week, union president, Carlos G. Fernandez, referred to a note sent to the Minister of Agricultural Development, including considerations by the guild on the restoration of tariffs, reiterating its position on the project that seeks to amend the Law on AUPSA and calling for, among other things, the removal from the responsibilities of the IMA things that relate to imports, as it is unfair competition for local producers.
Businessmen in Costa Rica will meet on March 17-18 to discuss issues related to the new buying habits of households and quality and safety standards.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Chamber of the Food Industry (CACIA):
Over 2,000 thousand owners, managers, executives and industry professionals from the food, drink and allied sectors will gather together to seek business opportunities with suppliers of raw materials, machinery, equipment and technologies.
In the last quarter of 2014 reports of food recalls and notifications of regulatory compliance increased by 16% particularly in fruits, vegetables and fish derivatives.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
Food recalls and notifications from the European authorities increased by 16% in the last quarter of 2014 compared to the previous period.
The clearest example of how dangerous the concept of "food sovereignty" is, comes from the example of the famine that killed 14 million people in China during a failed attempt at self-sufficiency in rice production.
As pointed out in an editorial in Nacion.com, the National Development Plan put forward by the Solis administration, in the chapter "agricultural and rural development" involves a socialist vision of food production, now outdated all over the world, attempting even to raise to the rank of constitutional law the concept of food sovereignty.
On November 25 domestic and foreign experts will be gathering together in San Jose to discuss the transformation and innovation of ingredients in the face of new food trends.
From a statement from the Costa Rican Chamber of the Food Industry (CACIA):
Ingredient suppliers have endeavored to present developments that meet new nutritional trends, in order to create products with different nutritional characteristics, according to the needs of consumers. For example, foods made from traditional nutrients have always existed, however, the ingredients industry shows a highly developed range of options for innovation in markets for products with reduced sugar, fat and sodium.
A resolution requiring food companies to carry out three microbiological tests every year has been suspended.
The Ministry of Health has rescinded a resolution which required merchants and manufacturers dedicated to food processing to submit raw materials to three microbiological tests each year.
According to the manager of the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama, Rafael Carles, "...
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.
The deadline for food exporters to update their details with the Food and Drug Administration of USA is December 31, 2014.
From a statement issued by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica (PROCOMER):
Every company which manufactures, processes, packs or holds food for human or animal consumption and export to the United States must renew its registration with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as part of the measures included in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The deadline for this adjustment will be from 1 October to 31 December.
On August 22nd the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will host a free webinar on the proposed new regulatory framework and standards of food safety.
From a statement issued by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica (Procomer):
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency will be conducting a webinar (online seminar) for free and in English, with emphasis on information of interest to small businesses on Friday 22 August.
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