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On March 5, 2025, Colombia's National Institute for the Surveillance of Food and Medicines (INVIMA) confirmed that starch is approved by the Colombian government as an additive for use as a thickener and stabilizer agent in fresh cheese.

Anyone exporting food or feed products to Colombia should note that since March 2025, Colombian quarantine officials have stopped allowing updates to many details on import permits and are no longer allowing any changes after the products have left port.

This report is an annual update of the food import standards and enforcement mechanisms in Colombia. It includes updates on labeling, biotechnology, and Colombia's nutrition and trade facilitation policies. For assistance on trade policy and port...

On October 23, 2024, the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) issued a resolution establishing a 3 percent threshold allowance for unapproved genetically engineered (GE) seed events, and a 5 percent threshold for animal feed. These thresholds will...

Import permits for genetically engineered (GE) corn from the United States are once again issued by South Africa. After a mid-summer drought that caused a 22 percent drop in production, South Africa needs to import corn to supplement domestic production.

This report outlines Colombia’s requirements for import permits and export certificates for agricultural products intended for human and animal consumption. It also provides a list of the Colombian government agencies involved in the entry of imported food products.

On July 4, 2024, the Colombian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism (MINCIT) announced the self-initiation of a countervailing duty (CVD) investigation into U.S. milk powder. On September 17, 2024, MINCIT issued a preliminary determination that...

The South African Department of Agriculture is in the process of finalizing requirements related to “control management systems,” which may include additional requirements of documentation to support label claims for imported food products.

On July 19, 2024, the South African government published a new sugar import tariff of R1,093 per metric ton (US$60.09/MT). This tariff change was triggered by a downward trend in global sugar prices and will apply to sugar imported into the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU).

In July 2024, falling global wheat prices triggered a wheat import duty of Rand 176.30 (USD 9.70) per metric ton for South Africa ending more than three years of duty-free imports. The higher import duty was introduced amid a 7 percent drop in wheat planted area for marketing year 2024/25.

This report has been updated to reflect the newest information and contacts relevant to exporting to South Africa. The Food and Agricultural Import Regulation and Standards (FAIRS) Certificate Report includes a list of the main certificates and permits needed to export food and agricultural products to South Africa.

The FAIRS Annual Country Report has been updated and summarizes the rules and regulations governing the import of food and agricultural products in South Africa. This report should be read in conjunction with the FAIRS Export Certificate Report to gain a thorough grasp of South African laws, standards, and import requirements.