The government has issued a health alert due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Colombia, and has temporarily suspended imports of processed meat and dairy products from susceptible species.

“.. The Ministry of Agricultural Development, through the National Directorate of Animal Health, wishes to communicate that in light of the re-emergence of the virus known as foot-and-mouth disease in Colombia, specifically in the department of Arauca bordering Venezuela, after notification has been sent to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), on 24 June and published on 26 June 2017; Panama is maintaining passive and active surveillance following the health security protocol established for all transborder diseases (including vesicular diseases).”

Regarding the deactivation of some import registrations, the Panamanian Food Safety Authority explained that “… This measure has been taken by the AUPSA until the Colombian authorities send notification of the control of the infectious outbreak and a reevaluation is made by the Panamanian institution to determine the possible risk that exists after this epidemiological event.”

See statement from the MIDA and statement from AUPSA (both in Spanish).