EXPORT FOOD TO PANAMA Food Import Regulations applied by the Panamanian Food Safety Authority (AUPSA)

Transcription

1 EXPORT FOOD TO PANAMA Food Import Regulations applied by the Panamanian Food Safety Authority (AUPSA) October 27,

2 Main objectives To protect human health, animal and plant patrimony To enforce regulations related to food and their quality Food = Food & Feed (Human and Animal Consumption) Photo: AUPSA Main office, Sun Towers Mall Bldg., Ricardo J. Alfaro Ave.

3 Based on Science! The 3 Sisters

4 Food control points of entry Guabito Colón Oficinas Centrales Almirante Puerto de Balboa Tocumen Paso Canoas Oficina de Aguadulce Puerto Obaldía

5 Import requirement structure Two types: Generic: food groups (additives, low risk food products, meat products, dairy) Specific: food product / country, zone, compartment, region, area Customs Harmonized Code Necessity of previous condition be acquired (Sanitary Eligibility, Phytosanitary Recognition, Plant Approval) Detail of Certification (Phytosanitary or Sanitary including Food Safety) Additional declarations: Free of specific diseases Treatments Plant implementation of HACCP and pre-requisite programs Documents required for authorization of shipment (document verification on flowchart)

6 Risk Categories 1. High Risk Fresh produce and other raw products of plant origin, raw food of animal origin. Requires evaluation of the country and establishment approval 2. Medium Risk Manufactured food and feed of animal and/or plant origin. Also food and feed for industrial use. Not raw Requires evaluation of the country and establishment approval 3. Low Risk Manufactured food and feed. Prepackaged food (Register), raw materials, additives Do not require evaluation of country or establishment

7 Operativos Field operations

8 It s a Team Effort Agreements with: MIDA (Agriculture) Customs Authority Ministry of Health Ministry of Commerce Consumer s Authority Others

9 MODULE 3 MARKET ENTRY MODE FINDING A DISTRIBUTOR OR IMPORTER

10 SELECTING MARKET PARTNERNS TO CHOOSE A PARTNER WHO WILL REPRESENT YOU BEFORE THE AUTHORITIES OF PANAMA YOU MUST: MEET HIS FUTURE PARTNER, THIS IS TO KNOW THEIR TRADING HISTORY AND REFERENCES. MAKE A REPRESENTATION CONTRACT IF HE S GOING TO BE A DISTRIBUTOR. IF IT WILL BE YOUR PARTNER IN THE COMPANY YOU SHOULD DRAFT A DOCUMENT STATING THE PERCENTAGE OF EQUITY PARTICIPATION.

11 LEGAL REQUIREMENTS TO BE MET IN PANAMA 1. MUST BE REGISTERED IN THE PUBLIC REGISTRY 2. YOUR PARTNER MUST HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF TRADE. 3. YOUR PARTNER SHOULD HAVE A FIXED LEGAL DOMICILE.

12 LEGAL REQUIREMENTS BY AUPSA 1- Number R.U.C. (Taxpayer Registration) 2- Company Name 3- Business address 4- winery address (if available) 5- Phone Number and Fax 6-

13 Thanks for your attention!

14 MODULE 6 International logistics moving freight to Latin America

15 International logistics in Panama Moving freight to Latin America Panama historically -500 years service in the world has been a bridge between Central and South America before the Spanish colonization, however, was not from the Spanish colonization to the present day that Panama remains an important point for international traffic and trade. Panama advances global commerce by air, land and sea, taking advantage of the facilities offered from our multimodal platform consists of the Panama Canal, the Interoceanic Railway, ports in the Atlantic and the Pacific, the Hub of the Americas for air transport cargo and passengers and the Colon Free Zone, for the collection and distribution of goods worldwide.

16 International logistics in Panama Connectivity Panama Canal allows more economical and efficient system. And directly involved 5% of World Trade Provides access to 140 shipping routes with destinations to over 80 countries. More than 14,000 vessels per year transit the canal, of which 350 are cruises. It has a cargo turnover of 192 million tons per year (M / Ton / year) and 700,000 passengers and crew. Most are tourists which transforms it into an important economic resource for the country.

17 Seaports in Panama Panama is a country with an important border line at the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. This provides an extraordinary opportunity to develop a network of national seaports dedicated not only to handling containerized cargo, but also a large variety of cargo either for local or international markets. The Panamanian seaports in the National Port System (NPS) are divided into two groups: state ports and private ports. Private ports have been given to terminal operators after a privatization process of former state ports (concession). State ports are still operated by the government under the management of the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), and basically provide dockage, and other related services for local users and short-sea services.

18 Panama has a network of seaports that provide a variety of services to containerized, bulk, liquid and general cargo, as well as to passengers in cruise terminals. Panamanian seaports in the National Port System (NPS) are divided into two groups: state ports and private ports. Private ports have been given to terminal operators after a privatization process of former state ports (concession). State ports are still operated by the government under the management of the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), and basically provide dockage and other related services for local users and short-sea services.

19 By leveraging the geographical position of Panama as the country s most important asset, several ports surrounding the Atlantic and Pacific entrances of the Panama Canal have specialized in the handling of containerized cargo converting the cluster in a transshipment hub. Panama has several seaports in the Atlantic area mainly serving the East Coast of North and South America, and the Caribbean: Manzanillo International Terminal (MIT), Cristobal-Panama Ports Company (PPC), Colon Container Terminal (CCT) and Colon Port Terminal (CPT). At the Pacific area, the port of Balboa is currently the only terminal performing container s handling service. Both, Balboa and Cristobal are being operated by Panama Ports Company, members of the Hutchinson Port Holdings. A new container seaport is being under construction at the Balboa area by the name of PSA Panama International Terminal, as part of the Port of Singapore group.

20 Cristobal The port of Cristobal is one of the oldest seaports still operating in Panama. Commercially operating for more than 150 years, Cristobal was constructed to receive workers and materials for the construction of the Transisthmian Railroad. Colon, formerly called Aspinwall, was the Atlantic window for passenger steamships carrying people driven by the Gold Rush, from New York to California. Back then, this seaport had only a small number of docks made out of wood and iron. Cristobal was operating 50 years before the port of Balboa was inaugurated.

21 Cristobal is operated by Panama Ports Company (PPC), who has been in charge of the management of this seaport and Balboa at the Pacific side since 1997 after receiving an extendable concession of 25 years granted by the government under Law 5 of January 16, Since then, Panama Ports Company started the process of transforming its quays and adapting them to the new world trade operations. Location The port of Cristobal is located in Limon Bay at the southern east part of Colon City and at the Atlantic entrance of the Panama Canal. Its strategic location connects this seaport with the most important maritime routes of the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the most valuable multimodal allies of the Colon Free Zone.

22 With a handling capacity of over one million TEUs, this port has road access to Colon Free Zone and a railroad interface on-dock that allows easier container movement. With a total of 3 container berths, 16 hectares dedicated to container storage, 11 quay cranes and 36 RTGs, the expansion plans include the acquisition of 10 additional Panamax and Post Panamax cranes, and a total extension over 3,700 meters of quay. Cristobal has a great potential to consolidate itself as an important node for containerized, bulk, liquid and general cargo at the Atlantic. Its accessibility to the canal and important maritime routes, the expansion programs on infrastructures and the investments plans on equipment and human resources are key elements that will generate more capability to handle larger volumes of cargo in a near future.

23 Colon Container Terminal Colon Container Terminal (CCT) is part of the Evergreen Group and started operations in Panama since Back in 1994, the Group proposed to build a modern container terminal leveraging the geographical position of Panama and the benefits of the country s connectivity and wide array of maritime and logistics services. In 1995, a master plan to develop a container terminal in Coco Solo North was submitted to the Panamanian Government, and the new terminal named CCT was built in the same place where a former US navy base was located.

24 Location Colon Container Terminal is located in Coco Solo North, province of Colon. This seaport is becoming an ideal site for transshipment and cargo inbound/outbound to and from the Colon Free Zone. At the Atlantic entrance of the Panama Canal, CCT serves to the regional markets of the Caribbean, North, South and Central America with shipments mainly originated in the Far East. This terminal has a total area of hectares, an access channel of 14.0 meters draft and a turning basin of 600 meters in radius for vessel s turnaround. The breakwater entrance has 200 meters wide allowing vessels into Manzanillo Bay.

25 Manzanillo International Terminal (MIT) was built on a former US Naval base at Coco Solo Sur. During the 1980's, the area was used as a storage facility and distribution center of vehicles for Latin America. In 1993, the original Ro-Ro berth concept grew to become a world-class container transshipment facility, fully equipped with over 2,000 meters in 7 berths. These berths are distributed in 5 container berths, one "Mediterranean style" Ro-Ro berth, and one multipurpose berth. The container berths are equipped with 17 Panamax, Post Panamax and Super Post Panamax quay cranes; over 1,500 reefer points and modern terminal management computer systems. The port handles 2.06 million TEUs annually with a handling capacity of 2.4 million TEUs. Transshipment operations represent 85% of their containerized activity.

26 MIT is located on the Atlantic Coast of Panama, near the Northern entrance of the Panama Canal. It is side-connected to France Field, the largest warehousing area of Colon Free Zone. Across Randolph Avenue, MIT is developing a logistic park with four warehouses, off dock empty area, railroad access and an value added area oriented to increase cargo added value activities. MIT is becoming a full logistics complex that includes a first world container and Ro-Ro terminal, large container storage areas, a logistics park, and a multimodal platform that connects maritime, ground, railroad and air transportation services.

27 MODULE 4 TECHNICAL GUIDE FOR THE IMPORT OF GOODS TO PANAMA L LICDO. FERNANDO AMARÍS

28 First of all merchants that want to expand their business operations to the Republic of Panama shall comply with the following steps and prerequisites: i. If you are a manufacturer / exporter with its facilities in Jamaica, it must consist in: a) A specific address where you can be reached and / or located in Jamaica. b) Information regarding the Legal Representatives, s and phone numbers where they can be located. c) You must have a Commercial License and all legal documentation of the company issued by the competent authorities of Jamaica that enable you to perform operations in food manufacturing that seeks to export to Panama.

29 ii. Must establish a physical office in the Republic of Panama or coordinating with distributor / importer agent who will do all the paperwork to register the local company (Panama) AUPSA.

30 For Registration and Password to be able to import notifications you require: Send a note signed by the Legal Representative of the Company domiciled in the Republic of Panama to the National Verification stating that you enable requests to be importer of food in the Republic of Panama and must attach the following information : 1- Number R.U.C. (Taxpayer Registration) 2- Company Name 3- Business address 4- winery address (if available) 5- Phone Number and Fax 6-

31 Once the exporter has your company or representative in Panama and he has been granted by the AUPSA your username and password can access the website AUPSA Once the exporter has your company or representative in Panama and he has been granted by the AUPSA your username and password can access the website AUPSA

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33 You must complete the form on the website and fill it and send it to the Authority with a term of up to 48 hours before arrival at the port or point of entry into Panama.

34 PRE-PACKED PRODUCTS: The first thing the Exporter / Importer to check is if the product you want to take Panama has an existing sanitary condition: You can do this by entering our website then enters the Legislation link, then access the module and full HEALTH REQUIREMENTS space associated with the product and the country and see if there is requirement for Jamaica Health Product you want to export to Panama.

35 In the absence of the current requirement for the product originating in Jamaica, you agree to enter and then link to online applications and enter to find the procedure for applying the health requirements and / or plant product that you want to export to Panama is issued. Once issued by the Health Requirement and / or Phytosanitary part of AUPSA and if the product is a pre packaged product you should proceed to Register the product and for that you must be physically present to AUPSA the following documentation:

36 Must submit an application which must include inter alia: 1- Product Name 2- Place of origin 3-Product Description 4- Importer s name 5 -Certificate of Free Sale (CLV) of the country where the product originates 6- Formula Product 7-Description of the method of manufacturing the product 8- information concerning conservation and biological stability. 9-production and expiration date 10-Four (4) product labels 11- A (1) copy of the package 12 -batching system

37 Once you have obtained the Sanitary Requirement issued for the product required and met each of the established legal requirements, has registered the product Importer you already have your username and password can make your online notification and send the AUPSA. The importer must retain the services of a duly authorized who perform the procedures with the authorities CUSTOMS BROKER

38 Once the shipment reaches the point of entry (port or airport) AUPSA inspector shall conduct a document review in accordance with sanitary and / or phytosanitary established and verified: Expect 1- Commercial Invoice 2- Pre Customs Declaration 3- Packing List 4- Health Certificate and / or Phytosanitary as applicable. Performed Verification Documentary inspector AUPSA shall conduct a physical inspection of the product and verify online if the product I got to the point of entry is the same as in the database that has the AUPSA and comes from the information provided by the importer at the time of registration of the respective food. Revised documentation and cargo, being completely satisfied, the inspector proceeds to place the stamp release and exit entry point.

39 LABELING OF PRE-PACKED PRODUCTS: The Republic of Panama is governed labeling of pre-packaged products in the guidelines issued by the Codex Alimentarius which state that any pre-packaged products offered to consumers must comply with the following: 1) Name of the document 2) List of ingredients 3) Processing aids and transfer of food additives 4) Net contents and drained weight

40 5) Name and address of the manufacturer, packer, distributor, importer, exporter or food seller 6) Country of Origin 7) Identification of consignment 8) Date of maturity or minimum 9) Instructions for use 10) Irradiated foods (if applicable) 11) language (when the language is written the original label is not acceptable to the consumer for whom it is intended, instead of relabelling a supplementary label containing the mandatory information in the required language) may be used.

41 THANKS YOU