In a significant trade development, the USDA and the Livestock Directorate in the Dominican Republic (DIGEGA) have brokered a pivotal agreement revising regulations for U.S. poultry access to the DR, as per a USDA statement.
The revised regulations, a response to the 2022 High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak, bring relief by easing prior restrictions on U.S. poultry. Notably, this change permits HPAI-free U.S. counties to freely export their poultry to the Dominican Republic. The shift eliminates the previous state-by-state export eligibility determination, marking a significant stride in facilitating trade.
Moreover, any HPAI-related restrictions will be confined to poultry, aligning with the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) definitions.
To ensure compliance, exporters must furnish a health certificate specifying the facility number and county of origin, affirming the poultry’s origin in HPAI-free counties, according to the USDA.
The Animal Plant Health and Inspection Services (APHIS) will play a key role in lifting HPAI restrictions, commencing 28 days after virus elimination following WOAH recommendations.
This regulatory breakthrough is poised to reposition U.S. poultry producers in the Dominican Republic’s market, countering the dominance of Brazilian poultry exports. The USDA anticipates a positive economic impact for U.S. poultry producers in 2023 and beyond, potentially reversing the trend observed with Brazilian poultry’s stronghold in the Dominican market.
