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The shipment, which will leave Costa Rica's main Pacific port and arrive in China in 35 days, represents the culmination of the negotiation process that began in 2013 with the signing of the protocol on veterinary and sanitary requirements. Then, in 2016, Chinese authorities audited potential export establishments.
Grupo Zamora, located in Barreal de Heredia, will be the first pork processing plant authorized for export by the Chinese health authorities.
In 2019, about 15 million kilos of beef were exported to China and 3 million kilos of pork are expected to be exported this year.
With this export, which includes chops, ribs, shoulders, fat, skin, feet, snouts, and ears, Costa Rica becomes the first country in Central America to export pork to China and the fifth in Latin America along with Mexico, Chile, Brazil and Argentina.
Carnes Zamora will start with a schedule of one container per week and then 10 per month during the first year.
Grupo Zamora - with 24 years in the market - has two branches: Porcina Americana, in charge of production, and Carnes Zamora, which processes the final product. Both establishments underwent a process to be authorized, registered, and included on the corresponding lists of the National Animal Health Service (SENASA).
The sanitary requirements established in the protocol signed between Costa Rica and China include biosecurity measures, assurance that the meat comes from healthy animals born and raised in Costa Rica, and certification that the frozen pork is free of contaminants or pathogens.
Currently, there are 9 other pig farms that are in the process of being authorized by SENASA, as well as two slaughter plants and a boning plant that are in the certification phase of accessing this Asian market.
February 12, 2020/ SENASA/ Costa Rica.
https://www.senasa.go.cr
