U.S. lifts ban on poultry exports to Colombia

The Colombian Ministry of Agriculture has instructed all Colombian ports to refuse import permits for any poultry products from June 1 due to concerns about highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The June 3-8 ban affected US exports by about $1.1 million.

FAS, APHIS and USTR have joined forces to use the free trade agreement to put pressure on Colombian officials to lift the ban. In parallel, USDA officials in Colombia directed US companies, Colombian importers, local trade associations, and State Department economic officials to report on the impact of the ban on bilateral relations with the Colombian Departments of Agriculture and Commerce.

This joint effort resulted in the lifting of the ban on 8 June. The resumption of import permits in Colombia was recognized as an additional letter to the 2012 regionalization agreement between the USTR and the Colombian government, which established provisions to mitigate the spread of avian influenza.

The denial of these import licenses, the delay in US poultry shipments, and the uncertainty of market access have directly impacted consumers and American businesses . Tyson Foods, PriceSmart and McDonald's were some of the main companies affected by the ban, along with larger Colombian importers such as Nestlé-Colombia.

Government officials and local importers worked tirelessly to get immediate results, which was a compelling case for the Colombian government. Thanks to these efforts, the US regained market access.