Lack of Traceability Penalizes Panamanian Exports

Panama cannot seem to find a way to improve its position in the agriculture business even with increases in wholesale prices and export opportunities.  Once again, it looses out a competitive edge due to lack of affirmative action.   This year Panama will stop the export of 1580 tons of beef to the European Union for failing to meet the requirement of implementing livestock traceability.

One requirement for Panama to export meat through the Treaty of the European Union with Central America, is for the country to have a traceability system, however, the project is being held up in Congress. Without implementation, the country will not get the certification required by the European market.

“Each country has a quota of 1583 tons, with the exception that any nation which fails to gain EU certification forfeits its share at the beginning of each year to a regional remnant, where those countries that do have certification can participate in attending to these quantities for export”, reported Prensa.com.

According to José Pablo Solis, president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (Anagan), the legislation which proposes the use of a numbered code in the animal’s ear and which was approved on second its reading in the National Assembly, was returned to a first debate about 20 days ago. This is because the industrial meat processors objected to traceability being developed from birth until the animal becomes food.

“… If Panama fails to adopt a traceability program, it can not export a single kilogram of meat to Europe, therefore I am calling for a return to the issue,” said Christopher Agenor Navas, president of the American Federation of Cattle Meat Sector (Fecescabo).

Euclides Diaz, Executive Secretary of Anagan said the impasse in approving the bill on traceability “moves us away from one of the top export markets.”

Source: Prensa.com