Colombia will be able to export meat, its derivatives and dairy products to Cuba after receiving An authorization of the National Center for Animal Health of Cuba (Cenasa). The audit took place in November and December of last year and, after certifying that they met the requirements, the producers join the companies that already had permission to trade poultry meat with the Island.
“The Institute’s commitment to continue offering opportunities to the different economic sectors of the country, in accordance with the vision of the national Government and supported by the safety guarantees provided by the country’s official inspection system, headed by Invima, both for consumers nationals as well as those from third countries,” said Francisco Rossi, general director of Colombia’s National Institute for Food and Drug Surveillance (Invima).
The certification is valid for two years and has been granted by the Cuban ministries of Commerce, Industry and Tourism; External relationships; Health and Agriculture. Invima, Fedegan, Asoleche, Porkcolombia, Fenavi and other commercial institutions also collaborated in the process, on the Colombian side.
With the certificate, slaughter plants can send bovine meat, pork, poultry and their by-products to the Island.
In September, Colombia already announced that several Colombian companies had been authorized to export poultry meat to Cuba.
Germán Umaña, Colombian Minister of Commerce, has celebrated the incorporation of the new certifications. “This authorization will allow us to foster economic and trade relations based on the existing strengths and opportunities identified between the two countries and will undoubtedly benefit our peoples,” he said.
In September, Colombia already announced that several Colombian companies had been authorized to export poultry meat to Cuba: Operadora Avícola Colombia SAS and Alimentos La Cali. Both were added to the 10 entities certified to export dairy products.
Cuba is the second most dependent country in Latin America per capita on imports of agricultural products, only surpassed by Panama, as reflected by a report published last December by three United Nations agencies.
Between 2018 and 2020, the Island had a deficit in imports of agricultural products – that is, it bought more than it could export – of 1,632 million dollars, of which 446 million corresponded to meat.
A good part of this meat ends up being destined for tourist accommodation, hard currency stores or digital portals that sell products for emigrants to buy for their families on the Island. While in the networks of state stores in Cuban pesos they are hardly sold chicken quarters or mixed hash, online sites market beef cuts, imported pork legs and chicken breasts, a part of the bird that never appears on the rationed market.
The data of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (Cepal) for 2022 made public a few days ago corroborate the debacle: Cuba exported 2,000 million dollars and spent 10,066 on imports. In the last three years, the annual deficit went from 5,681 million dollars in 2020 and 5,628 in 2021 to 8,066 in 2022.
________________________
Collaborate with our work:
The team of 14ymedio He is committed to doing serious journalism that reflects the reality of deep Cuba. Thank you for accompanying us on this long road. We invite you to continue supporting us, but this time becoming a member of our newspaper. Together we can continue transforming journalism in Cuba.
