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USMEF Conducts Port Inspector Training in Growing Colombian Market

Published: Mar 21, 2014

Dr. Nelson Huerta conducts a port inspector training session in Colombia

A recently implemented free trade agreement, combined with timely and effective marketing efforts, has helped make Colombia one of the world’s fastest-growing destinations for U.S. pork and beef. Last year Colombia was the Central/South America region’s largest market for U.S. pork in both volume (34,099 metric tons, +73 percent from 2012) and value ($88.1 million, +63 percent). Beef exports to Colombia tripled in volume (2,734 metric tons) last year and increased 173 percent in value ($9.1 million) compared to 2012.

Unfortunately, this level of success in an emerging market tends to come with some growing pains. USMEF received several reports of port delays and problems with shipments clearing customs in Colombia, making it difficult for U.S. exporters to fill orders in a timely and reliable manner. To address these issues, USMEF teamed with the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service to hold training sessions in Bogota and the key port cities of Buenaventura and Cartagena for inspectors from three Colombian government agencies: the National Institute of Food and drug Surveillance (INVIMA), the Agriculture Colombian Institute (ICA) and the National Direction of Taxes and Customs (DIAN).

Utilizing support from the Pork Checkoff and Beef Checkoff Programs, the goal of this activity was to enhance and improve communication between all agencies dealing with meat imports from the United States. USMEF-South America enlisted the support of the USMEF-Mexico office by including Dr. Nelson Huerta, director of technical services, as a speaker. Dr. Huerta and the USMEF-Mexico staff have conducted similar training sessions for the past eight years with very positive results.

Colombia’s National Direction of Taxes and Customs (DIAN) was one of three agencies to participate in USMEF’s port inspector training sessions

The three sessions attracted more than 100 attendees. Many provided positive feedback on the training provided and the collaborative atmosphere in which it was offered. The sessions increased port inspectors’ familiarity with U.S. meat products and allowed for a detailed discussion of the issues that cause delays. These include identification of cuts that qualify for duty-free treatment, proper interpretation of product labels and maintaining cold chain requirements in severely hot weather conditions.

“With strong attendance at all three sessions and such a high level of interest expressed by the inspectors, we are already planning follow-up training activities,” said Jessica Julca, USMEF South America manager. “I am very pleased that we were able to capitalize on USMEF-Mexico’s experience with this type of training and further build on that success.”