June 16, 2020

US red meat permitted for export to Bolivia

Effective June 10, US red meat is eligible for export to Bolivia, the US Meat Export Federation announced.

According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service's new Export Library entry for Bolivia, US meat and meat products produced in the United States are eligible, along with casings derived from livestock slaughtered under inspection in the country.

All federally inspected plants are eligible for export, but USMEF is seeking information on the specific company and product registration details for Bolivia.

Last year, Bolivia reported beef imports of 1,831 tonnes, mainly from Brazil along with small volumes from Argentina. Imports were valued at US$2.6 million. Pork imports, which were almost entirely from Brazil, totalled 443 tonnes valued at about US$1 million.

Bolivia's imports of sausages, which are mainly from Brazil, totalled more than 5,000 tonnes in 2016 (valued at US$5.7 million, suggesting low-cost poultry sausages might account for most of the trade) but were reported at just 446 tonnes last year, valued at US$474,000. Bolivia also imports prepared beef products from Brazil (1,422 tonnes in 2019, valued at US$1.7 million) and small volumes of prepared pork products.

Most South American suppliers have duty-free access to Bolivia, which is an associate member of the Mercosur trade bloc.

US beef, pork and lamb muscle cuts and variety meats entering Bolivia will be subject to a 10% duty rate. The 10% rate also applies to most other red meat products, with the exception of prepared or preserved beef, for which the rate is 20%, and prepared or preserved pork, which is subject to duties of 10% to 20%.

Duty rates for poultry also range from 10% to 20%.

- USMEF