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This report serves as a road map for U.S. companies exporting to Ecuador. While Ecuador is a challenging market for U.S. food and agricultural products, it is also one of opportunities. Domestic production cannot meet consumer demand, necessitating continued imports.

The retail industry is an important component of Ecuador’s economy. The 2022 forecasts for retail food sales is $24.9 billion and for consumer expenditures on food, beverages, and tobacco is $15.9 billion. Excellent sales prospects exist for U.S. food products to supply this sector.

The legal and regulatory situation to allow the planting of genetically engineered (GE) crops in Ecuador remains relatively the same as 2021. Commercial cultivation of GE crops is not permitted, however cultivation for research is allowed and an exception exists for GE products without recombinant or foreign DNA in the genome. A ruling by Ecuador’s Constitutional Court in early 2022 now makes it more difficult for the President to authorize exceptions to the GE ban.

The report summarizes Mozambique’s general food laws, regulatory authorities, major import/export procedures, food and packaging/labeling regulations, registration measures, and other trade facilitation issues. At the end, it provides contact information for major government regulatory agencies and a list of useful local public and private sector contacts for additional technical product-specific information and import assistance.

All the sections of the report have been updated based on website links and contacts, as well as to comply with the updated reporting instructions. The report lists major certificates and permits required to export food and agricultural products from the United States to Mozambique.

Mozambique has not yet approved the use of GE crops. Mozambique planted its first genetically engineered (GE) corn trial in 2017 at the Chókwè Agricultural Station as part of the TELA project (formerly Water Efficient Maize for Africa) aimed to test drought and pest resistance.

This report identifies Ecuador’s import requirements for foreign export certificates, highlighting current procedures and identifying the relevant local agencies with oversight over these issues. An export certificate matrix and outline is included. This report supplements the FAS Quito Food and Agricultural Import Regulations (FAIRS) 2022 report.

This report outlines Ecuador’s requirements for food and agricultural product imports. It is a guide on the regulations that exporters need to consider in order to enter their products into the Ecuadorian market. Hyperlinks to ministries, agencies, and legal documents are provided throughout this report.

Coffee production for marketing year (MY) 2022/23 (April to March) is forecast at 354,000 60-kg bags of Green Bean Equivalent (GBE) basis, an increase of 36 percent over the MY 2021/2022 estimate of 261,000 60-kg bags, due an increase in expected area harvested and improved pruning techniques.

On May 4, 2022, Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso appointed Mr. Bernardo Manzano as his 3rd Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG).

Sugar production in marketing year MY 2022/23 is forecast to decrease to 530,000 MT, down five percent from the MY 2020/21 estimate, due to fertilizer and pesticide price increases during 2021, and despite a slight increase in planted area of 1,000 hectares.

The food processing industry is an important component of Ecuador’s manufacturing sector. In 2020, the sector contributed $6.5 billion to Ecuador’s gross domestic product and grossed $11 billion in net sales. Excellent sales prospects exist for U.S. food ingredient products to supply this industry.