July 31, 2014

 

Costa Rica's cattle industry meets Russia's health conditions for export

 

 

Costa Rica's cattle industry is now able to export to Russia, having fulfilled the country's health requirements, according to Russia's Federal Administration of Veterinary and Phytosanitary Control.

 

The approval, currently granted only for meat and milk powder, was issued after Russian experts conducted evaluations of infrastructure at local export companies and investigated the country's vigilance of animal diseases, Costa Rica's Animal Health Service (SENASA) said.

 

"This is a great achievement for the meat and dairy sectors of our country that now are allowed to enter a market as big as Russia," said SENASA's director of food safety, Olivet Cruz said.

 

The agency also confirmed that two local companies have received SENASA's authorisation to begin sales to Russia. Ganaderos Industriales de Costa Rica received approval to export meat, while Dos Pinos was permitted to export milk powder.

 

Luis Diego Obando Espinach, the executive director of the Costa Rican Cattle Corporation (CORFOGA), said they are pleased with the approval.

 

"Traditionally, Costa Rican beef products were mostly sold to the US and Puerto Rico, and any opportunity for diversification is always good news," he said.

 

El Salvador, Mexico and Guatemala are the next major buyers of Tico meat, according to CORFOGA data.

 

"The Russian market is large and offers good prices… I believe that our meat will find a good niche considering its high quality and other characteristics such as low fat levels obtained through good farming practices and good pasture selection," Obando said.

 

National Livestock Survey figures in 2013 stated that 1.8 million hectares were dedicated to cattle farming in a total of 45,780 farms. The figure accounts for some 1.57 million head of cattle in the country.

 

However, the main source of profit for local producers in recent years has been the increase in prices. In 2004, a tonne of meat was sold at US$2,200. In 2013, the export price reached US$4,100, meaning revenues in those 10 years grew by 88.1%, while the quantity of exported meat rose by just 2.9%, according to the National Livestock Survey.

 

Data from the Foreign Trade Ministry indicates that Costa Rican beef exports in 2012 totalled US$51 million.