Venezuela ends beef and milk import preferences

Venezuela has ended the import preferences given to beef and milk in 2008 because supply problems have been solved, according to the Minister of Agriculture and Lands Elias Jaua.

Venezuelan beef and milk importers must now go through the normal procedures. Dairy companies and traders of cattle and beef will have to request for labour, social, security, housing solvencies documents, as well as non-production or insufficient production certificates necessary to obtain import permissions.

Jaua said other reasons for ending the preferences were the increase of domestic production and that the international market was no longer as volatile as in 2008.

The government seeks to maintain an import quota of about 30 percent of the total supply, Jaua said.

Based on 2008 estimates of consumption, Venezuela would import at least 175,000 tonnes of meat for 2009.

But Venezuelan Cattle Association, Fedenaga, reported that 100,000 tonnes of meat were imported in the first quarter, representing a 68 percent of the imported meat share and 32 percent of domestic beef consumption.