A few days after producers in the country held demonstrations against the allegedly excessive entry of products such as dairy and meat, the government decided to form, together with representatives from the agricultural sector, a discussion table to solve some of the problems. However, this negotiation was abandoned by representatives of the unions.

As a result of this, agricultural producers called for a nationwide demonstration to be held today, and in response the authorities stated that they have already initiated a “ … process of purging and blocking import companies that carry out the activity in an ‘irresponsible’ way.“

Regarding the actions that the government plans to take, the Minister of Agricultural Development, Luis Enrique Carles, explained to Laestrella.com.pa that “ … in the first evaluation which started five days ago, they have already looked at some 100 importing companies, among which 20 or 25 were detected that are working irregularly. ‘We are going to block these companies in the coming days, both in the specific issue of meat (products), where we are making the relevant assessments together with the National Customs Authority and the Food Protection Department.‘”

In a statement from the Ministry of Agricultural Development (Mida), the Minister of Health, Temistocles Diaz, explained that ” … the responses to the producers are articulated, as are the audits of the Aupsa, communications with the Department of Food Health Protections so that nobody can import if they do not have their registration up to date, a toxicology laboratory, which now has a tender for equipment, and which will allow Panama, within a period of 6 months, to have its own laboratory, among others points on the list which, unfortunately, due to a methodology formula could not be shared’.“

See the statement from the Mida. (In Spanish)