Chile accepts U.S. poultry shipments

Chile accepts U.S. poultry shipments Chile's Livestock and Agricultural Service has approved the U.S. inspection, control and certification systems for poultry, allowing these products to enter the Chilean market.
   'This agreement represents a strong foothold for U.S. poultry exports to South America,' said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer, in an April 10 statement.
   Under the agreement, slaughterhouses, cold-storage plants and processing facilities of poultry that are officially reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) will be incorporated into the list of commercial establishments approved to export their products to Chile.
   The agreement also includes regular on-site audits by Chile's Livestock and Agricultural Service to verify the inspection, control and certification systems.
   Schafer said without the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement in place, 'common ground for expanding U.S. poultry exports to Chile would have been weakened.
   'Trade agreements not only increase two-way trade by providing duty-free access and sharing of standards among the United States and our trading partners, these agreements also open new markets for U.S. farmers and ranchers,' he said.
   On Dec. 3, 2007, FSIS began allowing Chile to export poultry products to the United States. FSIS determined that Chile's laws, regulations and other supporting documentation showed that its poultry inspection system includes requirements that are equivalent to all provisions in the FSIS's Poultry Products Inspection Act and its implementing regulations.
   FSIS will also verify through on-site reviews and port-of-entry testing that poultry establishments certified by the Chilean government continue to meet U.S. requirements.
   Since the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement entered force in 2004, total two-way trade in agricultural products between the countries has increased from $1.46 billion in 2004 to $2.23 billion in 2007, or 65 percent. In 2006, the United States exported $2.5 million of poultry products to Chile, with live birds and egg products accounting for about 90 percent.
   'With export eligibility for U.S. poultry approved under this agreement, demand for U.S. broiler and turkey meat will increase,' the USDA said.