Browse Data and Analysis

Panama recognizes the certificates and standards of the U.S. regulatory and sanitary inspection system, based on the United States – Panama Agreement regarding certain sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical standards affecting trade in agricultural products, of December 20, 2006, simplifying requirements for the importation of U.S. food and feed products. Panama is accepting the electronic export certificates issued by APHIS and FSIS; and the sanitary and free sale certificates issued by NOAA, FDA and Enterprise Florida, Inc. for food products exported to Panama.

New changes to Panama's import requirements reflected in this report are for fresh potatoes, poultry products, and sanitary registrations for pet food, raw materials, ingredients and additives. Consumers continue to perceive U.S. food products as high quality, wholesome and reliable, which has resulted in continuous growth in demand.

This report provides information to U.S. exporters of agricultural and related products on how to do business with the Food Processing industry in Panama. It is primarily a service-based economy, but food processing is one of its top industries.

Panama did not make any policy changes regulating Genetically Engineered (GE) plants, seeds and animals (including for GE microbes) in 2021. Panama has not established the implementing regulations of Law 48 of 2002, which created the National Commission of Biosafety for Genetically Modified Organisms.