In a recent development, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Dominican Republic’s Livestock Directorate (DIGEGA) have updated the regulations concerning the export of U.S. poultry to the Dominican Republic.
This comes as a significant shift, especially considering the U.S. poultry industry had been grappling with restrictions due to the High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak in the Dominican Republic in 2022.
Regulatory Changes and Export Eligibility
The newly revised agreement permits U.S. counties that are HPAI-free to export poultry products to the Dominican Republic. This marks a departure from the earlier regulations, which assessed export eligibility on a state-by-state basis.
According to the USDA, any future restrictions tied to HPAI will be specifically targeted at poultry, adhering to the guidelines established by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
Compliance Measures and Certification Requirements
To align with the updated regulations, exporters are mandated to furnish a health certificate. This certificate should detail the facility number and the county of origin, thereby verifying that the poultry and its products originate from HPAI-free counties.
The USDA’s Animal Plant Health and Inspection Services (APHIS) will initiate the process of lifting HPAI-related restrictions 28 days post-virus elimination, in line with WOAH recommendations.
Market Dynamics and Revenue Projections
The regulatory revision is poised to positively influence the U.S. poultry market. It aims to enable U.S. producers to reclaim market share in the Dominican Republic, a market increasingly dominated by Brazilian poultry exports.
The USDA anticipates that this change will generate additional revenue streams for U.S. poultry producers in 2023 and beyond, potentially reversing the existing trend that has seen Brazilian poultry gaining ground in the Dominican market.
