(CNN Spanish) — The United States Meat Exporters Federation, USMEF, maintains that the restrictions imposed by the Colombian government on beef products from eight states due to alleged avian flu, “have no scientific basis,” it told CNN this Friday. John Herath, spokesperson for the Federation.
“The restrictions that Colombia has imposed on US beef as a result of recent findings of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in lactating dairy cows,
They have no scientific basis. Colombia is the only country that has officially restricted imports of American beef. USMEF is encouraged that the vast majority of our trading partners are following the science on this matter,” Herath said in an email.
The announcement, published on April 22 on the website of the US Department of Agriculture, details that the restrictions on the export of US meat to Colombia affect meat and derived products from Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico , North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota and Texas produced starting April 15.
The USMEF maintains that the United States is the main importer of beef to Colombia and that restrictions on certain states are “unviable and wrong.”
Colombia’s decision “has created uncertainty for importers and their customers, for their suppliers, and will greatly disrupt trade,” according to the association.
“USMEF appreciates the efforts of the United States government to address the concerns of Colombian officials and we are hopeful that this matter can be resolved.”
as soon as possible,” the statement continues.
The organization estimates that the United States exported about US$40 million in meat and meat products to Colombia last year, which is why it is considered a “certainly active” market.
although it represents “a relatively low percentage of total exports” of the United States in this sector, which were US$10 billion in 2023.
CNN is attempting to contact the Colombian Agricultural Institute and the Colombian Ministry of Agriculture for more details on the decision, as well as for their comments regarding the USMEF claims.
