Browse Data and Analysis

Agricultural biotechnology constitutes an opportunity for U.S. suppliers, as non-governmental and governmental organizations have encouraged its integration into the Haitian economy in recent years.

On October 1, 2019, El Salvador agreed to harmonize the biosafety technical regulation for “modified living organisms” for agricultural use with Guatemala and Honduras and designated the Ministry of Agriculture as the National Competent Authority to provide authorizations and keep registries related to biotechnology.

Access to the benefits of modern agricultural biotechnology in the Caribbean Basin remains stifled by the unfinished work of implementing a science-based, risk-management approach to regulate its use.

This report provides examples of the significant export certificates and other documents required by the government of El Salvador for U.S. exports of food and agricultural products.

Since August 7, 2024, the Superintendence for Sanitary Regulation has been responsible for food and beverage product registration in El Salvador.

In the Caribbean region, sales value in the retail grocery sector increased by 3 percent in 2023. This is due in part to the rise in tourism in many markets, which is boosting economic growth. The largest grocery retail markets are Trinidad and Tobago, Guadeloupe, and the Bahamas.

In 2023, U.S. agriculture exports to El Salvador reached $860 million, a slight drop of 12 percent compared to 2022 due mainly to lower wheat and oil seeds imports. However, the consumer-oriented products category saw a promising increase from $349 million to $364 million, marking a 4.4 percent growth.

Mr. Vernet Joseph, a former senior-level official with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of the Environment, was appointed on June 13, 2024, as head of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Rural Development in Haiti.

As tourists flock back to the Caribbean in larger numbers and island economies regain their footing after being challenged by global inflation, competition, and other headwinds, opportunities for U.S. suppliers are slowly emerging. While hurdles remain present on the horizon, U.S. suppliers are finding resilient Caribbean buyers to be excellent partners on the road to commercial success.

El Salvador's coffee production is expected to reach 555,000 sixty-kg-bags in marketing year (MY) 2023/24. The Salvadoran coffee sector continues to be affected by climate vulnerability and an absent long-term strategy.

This report describes the major export certificates required by the Government of Haiti for imports of food and agricultural products. The following sections of this report indicate the certificates required for each category of products, including their purpose, the requesting ministry, and their outlines.

This report is an overview of general legal and technical requirements imposed by the Government of Haiti for food and agricultural imports. The following sections of this report summarize the major requirements for: Food Laws; Labeling; Packaging and Containers; Food Additive Regulations...