This week’s audio report from the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) discusses an important policy change occurring in the South American country of Colombia, and what this change means for US beef producers.

Following Colombia’s recent decision to remove restrictions related to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) on certain bone-in cuts of beef, the U.S beef industry has officially gained full access to the country for the first time since 2003. Beef derived from Canadian cattle imported into the United States for direct slaughter may also now be exported to Colombia. U.S. beef exports to Colombia reached about $14.5 million in 2014, but trended lower in 2015.

In the report, Cheyenne McEndaffer, USMEF technical services manager, discusses how the removal of these restrictions will allow a wider range of U.S. beef cuts to be exported to Colombia, and how the removal of the export verification (EV) program will also help to lower production costs.

“Reducing costs is important as the U.S. beef industry seeks greater traction is this highly competitive market,” she says.

Listen to the full report here:
USMEF Weekly Audio, Colombia Beef Access