Browse Data and Analysis

This report provides information to U.S. exporters of agricultural and related products on how to do business with the Food Processing industry in Panama. It is primarily a service – based economy, but food processing is one of its top industries.

On January 14, 2025, the Panamanian Food Agency (APA) and the Ministry of Health of Panama confirmed that the dairy plants registration process has been significantly expedited, resolving a trade barrier created on July 17, 2023.

Although Panama highlighted the use of biotechnology in its Agricultural State Policy Law 352 of 2023, Panama has not yet established the implementing regulations of Law 48 of 2002, which created the National Commission of Biosafety for Genetically Modified Organisms.

This report outlines how U.S. food and agriculture exporters engage with the hotel, restaurant, and institutional (HRI) sector in Panama. This sector plays a vital role in Panama's economy and is driven by international tourism.

Angola currently does not allow the production of genetically engineered (GE) plants or animals. Food aid imports containing GE ingredients are permitted with certain conditions. In December 2004, Angola’s Council of Ministers approved a decree prohibiting production and importation of genetically engineered GE crops.

This report documents Angola’s technical policies, practices, and import requirements for food and agricultural products. Notable updates include numerous veterinary health certificates for animals and animal genetics.

This report summarizes Angola’s general food laws, regulatory authorities, major import/export procedures, food and packaging/labeling regulations, registration measures, and other trade facilitation issues.

This report provides information to U.S. exporters of agricultural and related products on how to do business with the retail food sector in Panama. Important supermarket, hypermarket, and independent specialty food store chains dominates the grocery sector.

Post forecasts 2025 chicken meat imports will be maintained at 190,000 metric tons (MT). Although chicken meat imports have been declining for years due to devaluation of the Angolan currency (kwanza), growing food price inflation, significant limitations on foreign exchange are expected to continue to repress imports, resulting in 2024 and 2025 reflecting the lowest level of consumption since 2016.

With a population of nearly 36 million people, including a segment of high-income consumers looking for quality imported products, Angola presents an array of export opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products. Angola is a significant importer of food and agricultural goods, making foreign purchases totaling more than $1.7 billion from more than 60 countries in 2023.

On April 1, 2024, Angola issued Presidential Legislative Decree No. 1/24 – a new Schedule for Customs Tariffs of Import and Export Duties. The new tariff schedule aims to generate more government revenue while also protecting domestic production.

Changes to Panama's import requirements reflected in this report are for beef, pork, poultry, dairy products, and prior notifications of imported food. A new law establishes the inspections and food safety regulations for food products.