"Costa Rican poultry production is at competitive levels and free of avian influenza," said Agriculture Minister Gloria Abraham. Courtesy of Humane Society International
Four Costa Rican egg companies will begin exporting this month for the first time to Mexico, after receiving the approval of the National Animal Health Service (SENASA).
According to estimates by the National Poultry Chamber, producers are ready to ship some 40 tons (about 600,000 eggs), which represent the excess of local production.
Local producers hope to take advantage of an opportunity created after the death of thousands of birds in Mexico by avian influenza, which caused a shortage in that country.
However, National Poultry Chamber officials acknowleged that the opportunity to export to Mexico will be temporary, lasting only until Mexican producers recover losses from bird flu. But officials already have initiated contacts with other countries such as Colombia to send the surplus of local production, SENASA’s executive director, German Rojas, said in a press release.
Agriculture and Livestock Minister Gloria Abraham welcomed the new opportunities for domestic producers, saying, “This is a great chance to show the quality of our poultry production, which is at competitive levels and free of avian influenza.”
Last year, Costa Rican egg exports totaled $7 million, mostly to Nicaragua.
