WASHINGTON — The US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, and the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) collaborated to lift a temporary stoppage of US poultry products from exporting into Colombia.

On June 1, Colombia’s minister of agriculture told all Colombian ports to deny import permits to US poultry products over concerns about highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). FAS estimated that about $1.1 million in US exports were impacted by the ban between June 3 and June 8.

The agency added that USDA staff in Colombia directed US companies, Colombian importers, local trade associations and State Department Economic officials to communicate the impact of the ban on bilateral relations between the two countries. 

“Colombia’s resumption of issuing import permits recognized the 2012 regionalization agreement side-letter between USTR and the Colombian government, which established provisions for mitigating the spread of HPAI,” FAS said.

Tyson Foods, PriceSmart and McDonald’s were among the companies affected by the ban, in addition to Colombian importers like Nestlé – Colombia, according to the agency.