Colombia overcomes food exports barriers to the U.S.

With the approval of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the U.S., Colombian employers now wait for the agreement to take effect, and while they wait, the Government of that country makes its own decisions that could slow the actual access of Colombian products, despite the treaty.

Meanwhile, the Colombian government, through the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA), advances in some efforts to allow rural producers to tap into the FTA without crashing sanitary barriers that prevent them from selling in the U.S..

A possible new barrier for agricultural and industrial products related to this sector, which would go against the expected effects of the treaty, the new law on the modernization on food safety (FSMA), which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been raising awareness in all Latin American countries.

A few days ago, Gisella Kopper, an analyst of regulatory issues for Latin America at the FDA, said that "the law in question does not replace the so called law of bioterrorism preparedness and response and public safety, 2.002, but complements it."

That is, exporters will have to deal with bioterrorism law and safety. 

The first was issued following the attacks of September 11, 2.001.

The second one sets safety conditions for producers and the agribusiness of fresh and processed foods, respectively, who want to sell their products to market the United States.

The law has defined five areas. In the first one we can find prevention controls with which the FDA seeks to prevent pollution in the production chain. 

Another aspect is the inspection and enforcement, as the law recognizes that this process is key to make the industry responsible for the production of safe food.

This norm wants producers and the agribusiness to comply to standards of good practice (Production or manufacturing), in order to reduce risks in food (fresh fruits and vegetables).

Also, the FDA will have the power to remove food from the market to the extent that it poses a risk to human health, although it is estimated that in this case, the decision will be taken unilaterally.

In addition, food producers and exporters must register with the FDA and have a agent or representative in the United States.