Colombia steps up efforts to export meat to the US
Despite the efforts of public and private institutions, not a single kilogram of Colombian beef has been able to enter the North American market. In contrast, the Colombian market remains open to imports of dairy products and meat from the US, which creates a marked sectoral asymmetry between the two countries.
The United States is one of the world's largest importers of beef, with annual purchases exceeding 1.5 million tons. For Colombia, this market represents a strategic opportunity thanks to the quality of its meat, its geographic proximity, and the potential for export growth. However, the process to obtain sanitary admissibility is complex and requires documentary verification and on-site visits by U.S. health authorities.
For example, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service ( APHIS ), one of the entities responsible for evaluating primary production, has made higher requirements than those of other countries, as noted by the Colombian Agricultural Institute.
APHIS initially required full traceability of animals from birth to slaughter within a single region, which could delay the process by up to six years.
Given this scenario, APHIS has suggested that Colombia present an alternative proposal that meets U.S. standards. To this end, work is being done on identifying properties and constructing said proposal, accompanied by a diplomatic approach that will allow progress to be made on the issue.
On the other hand, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the entity responsible for verifying and enabling the Colombian health inspection system, which is led by the National Institute for Food and Drug Surveillance (Invima).
In this context, between February 16 and March 1, 2025, FSIS will conduct a visit to Colombia to evaluate the beef inspection system. During the visit, the facilities of companies such as Minerva Foods and Alimentos Cárnicos will be inspected.
A significant step forward in this process has been the creation of an Advisory Committee made up of public and private entities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, the Embassy of Colombia in the United States, ProColombia, Invima, ICA, Fedegán, Friogán, Minerva Foods and Frigosinú. This space for consultation has been key to drawing up a roadmap towards sanitary admissibility .
The upcoming FSIS visit will be crucial to advancing this goal and represents an opportunity to demonstrate the Colombian meat sector's ability to meet the demanding standards of the U.S. market.
The cattle community hopes that these joint efforts between the public and private sectors will finally open the doors to one of the most important markets in the world for Colombian beef.
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