December 7, 2012

The USDA and Chile's Ministry of Agriculture have concluded negotiations concerning export certifications for frozen and chilled poultry meat,including duck meat.

The USDA updated the Export Library that same day to reflect the opening of this new market.

US exporters have been successfully exporting almost US$40 million worth of chicken and turkey products annually to Chile since 2008 and the addition of duck meat rounds out the selection.

As a result of negotiations that ended with the publication in the Chilean National Gazette in January 2008 of Resolution 441, Chile recognised the USDA Inspection and Control System for only two species of poultry: chicken and turkey. In April 2012, members of the US Poultry and Egg Association asked FAS to open the market for duck meat.

Chile's Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) had two conditions to consider before expanding the market: the first of them, to review the Inspection and Control System for ducks and duck meat and evaluate the differences, if any, with the sanitary and slaughter system for chicken and turkey. The second was to evaluate the HACCP process for ducks.

The Ministry of Agriculture has some small farmer programmes to promote duck breeding for this niche market. According to the results of their experience and the market development since 2005, the demand can reach 60 tonnes a year, about US$380,000 and almost all of the production is consumed at restaurants in Santiago.

On Friday, November 23, 2013, FAS/FSIS/APHIS and the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture finished negotiating the certificate language to export frozen/chilled poultry meat that includes duck. The FSIS Export Library was updated the same day to reflect the opening of this new market.