April 14, 2008

Chile approves US poultry imports

Chile has allowed US poultry imports after approving the US inspection, control and certification systems for poultry, according to agriculture secretary Ed Schafer.

The agreement represents a strong foothold for US poultry exports to South America, according to Schafer.

"Without the benefit of the US-Chile Free Trade Agreement, the common ground for expanding US poultry exports to Chile would have been weakened. Trade agreements not only increase two-way trade by providing duty-free access and sharing of standards among the United States and our trading partners, these agreements also open new markets for US farmers and ranchers," said Schafer.

Under this agreement, slaughterhouses, cold-storage plants, and processing facilities of poultry that are officially reported by the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will be incorporated into the list of commercial establishments approved to export their products to Chile. The agreement also includes regular on-site audits by Chile's Livestock and Agricultural Service (SAG) to verify the inspection, control and certification systems.

Since the US-Chile Free Trade Agreement entered into force in 2004, total two-way trade in agricultural products between the US and Chile has increased from US$1.46 billion in 2004 to US$2.23 billion in 2007, or 65 percent.