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The competent Mexican authorities which regulate food and agricultural imports and/or require official U.S. export certificates include the Secretariat of Agriculture (SADER), Secretariat of Health (SALUD), Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), and the Secretariat of the Treasury and Public Credit (HACIENDA).

This document provides an overview of major Mexican agricultural and food-product laws and regulations, as well as related import standards and regulations. Some products may be subject to regulatory oversight by several different Government of Mexico (GOM) agencies. Post recommends that U.S. food and agricultural exporters work with experienced and established customs brokers and importers.

SENASA and ARSA have made significant progress in expediting import procedures with the introduction of on-line options for requesting import permits, sanitary authorizations of imported raw materials, etc. that provides immediate electronic delivery to ports of entry. They also authorized in 2021 a private logistics hub that includes SENASA and Customs Clearance.

On October 19, 2022, the Government of Mexico published a decree to temporarily exempt select importers from payment of import duties for certain goods and to facilitate administrative procedures as applied to the importation of select basic goods (mostly food items).

This report outlines Colombia’s requirements for import permits and export certificates for multiple food products for human and animal consumption. It also provides a list of the Colombian government agencies involved in the entry of imported food products.

This report is an annual update of the food import standards and enforcement mechanisms in Colombia. It includes updates on nutritional labeling, biotechnology and new information on sustainable packaging policies and trade facilitation in Colombia.

Although exports of poultry to the Dominican Republic are on pace to set historic records in 2022, the United States continues to lose export market share from Brazil. As of June, 2022, the United States has accounted for 56 percent (22,074 MT) of total poultry exports to the DR (64,392 MT); Brazil has accounted for 44 percent (17,429 MT) of those exports after only accounting for 25 percent in 2021 and 0 percent in 2020 and prior.

The National Plant, Animal Health and Food Safety Service (SENASA) is the regulatory agency in Honduras who is responsible for the inspection of all agricultural products that enter Honduras.

In June 2022 the Government of Guatemala confirmed that poultry products exported to Guatemala no longer need the USDA export mark on every box, and instead USDA can apply the mark on every consignment, pallet, or transportation unit. This has resulted in more efficient export clearance times with reduced labor, dock space and loading time which ultimately translates into better poultry prices for consumers.

This report provides examples for the major export certificates and other documents required by the government of El Salvador for U.S. exports of food and agricultural products. Please note, El Salvador’s import requirements change frequently, and are often subject to discretionary decisions at the point of entry.