The start of meat export is planned for 2023. Credit: Colprensa
This Saturday, December 17th, the National Institute for Food and Drug Control (Invima) and the Colombian Institute of Agriculture (ICA) announced the successful completion of a visit by the Cuban regime’s health authorities to allow the export of beef. Pork, poultry, dairy and meat products of Colombian origin to this country.
The Technical Mission of the National Center for Animal Health of Cuba (Cenasa) consisted of four auditors who reviewed the inspection, surveillance and control systems of Colombian meat products during a 20-day visit between November and December.
Along with local health and agricultural authorities, these Cuban officials visited 28 export companies, as well as Invima’s central and regional offices and Invima and ICA laboratories. They also passed through the seaport of the city of Barranquilla and the border areas. They also visited an animal feed factory and some farms dedicated to animal husbandry.
In addition, the auditors were informed about the different functions of these two units. The ICA also presented the visitors with the current status of dealing with official animal diseases and its coordination with Invima for the treatment of suspected cases.
According to the joint statement by the ICA and Invima, the Cuban regime’s auditors were satisfied with the supervision of the Colombian health authorities as well as with the controls of the export companies. With this approval, it is possible “to get closer to confirming the approvals for the export of the products to be tested”.
It is therefore expected that the Cuban regime’s health system will deliver the positive results of this fact-finding visit by February 2023. This would enable export companies to send meat products to the island.
The Colombian authorities are also working on models for export hygiene certificates, which will be used To shipments to Cuba, “which contain the hygiene declarations that export companies and their products must comply with in order to enter the Cuban market”.
This announcement comes a day after Agriculture Minister Cecilia López reiterated that the agricultural sectors of Colombia and Venezuela are ready to work together and that this result will be “a great future for our populations who need new opportunities”.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Colombia exported $149 million worth of agricultural products to Venezuela between January and October 2022, an increase of 118% over the same period in 2021, which was $68.6 million.
“This is a step forward in Latin American integration, coexistence between brother nations. The agricultural sector is ready, Colombian politics will find common ground with their counterparts in Venezuela, not only with the state but also with the private sector,” said the minister.
According to the national government, the main products currently exported from Colombia to Venezuela are: confectionery, palm oil, sugar and cocoa preparations.
The Ministry of Agriculture also reported that both governments have been working on animal and plant health issues for several weeks.
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