DENVER — Federal officials confirmed that the Colombian government recently lifted its ban on US beef exports to the country after there were concerns in the summer about highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle.

The Export Library for Colombia showed updates and reflected the access to beef from 14 US states to export to Colombia.

In a statement, Dan Halstrom, president and chief executive officer for the US Meat Export Federation, thanked the US government, including the teams at USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), and Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

“The USDA staff posted in Bogota, in particular, worked tirelessly to get these restrictions lifted,” Halstrom said. “We are also grateful to Colombian importers and customers who remained loyal to US beef during this difficult time and who voiced their concerns to the Colombian government about the interruption in trade.”

Halstrom added that the effective USDA engagement with other trading partners helped prevent similar trade barriers over HPAI concerns from extending and affecting additional export markets. 

“While Colombia was the only destination to officially restrict imports of US beef as a result of H5N1 findings in dairy cows, the impact on beef exports was substantial,” he said. “Before the restrictions imposed in April, Colombia was a promising market averaging about $3 million per month in US beef purchases. In July – the most recent month for which data is available – exports fell to less than $850,000. We look forward to rebuilding US beef’s presence in the Colombian market and meeting the needs of our valued customers.” 

In April, Colombia imposed a ban on US beef exports from the states with positive HPAI cases among dairy herds.

USMEF previously stated that the United States is Colombia’s biggest supplier of imported beef. According to the association, shipments of US beef to Colombia in 2023 were valued at $40 million.