United States opens its market to Chilean beef, lamb, and pork

On Monday, November 21, 2005, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) added Chile into the list of countries qualified to become supplier of beef, lamb, and pork to the United States. The decision was published in the Federal Register and it will be fully implemented thirty days after that date.

FSIS concluded that Chile’s meat inspection laws, standards, regulations, and procedures are equivalent to the applicable regulations of the United States.

FSIS received 11 comments on the proposed rule published on May 10, 2005. All comments were positive, and no objections were raised.

Under the Chile-US Free Trade Agreement some imports of Chilean beef meat are subject to a quota of 1,210 tons. This quota will be removed since the beginning of 2007.

In 2004, the main suppliers of meat and meat products of the United States of America were Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.