Haiti.- The border is closed for the second consecutive day due to decisions by neighboring countries. Haiti is actively seeking solutions to reduce its dependence on imports from the Dominican Republic.
The Haitian Secretary of Commerce is organizing meetings with business leaders and importers, with the cooperation of Mexico, to explore options to replace food imports from the Dominican Republic in the short and long term.
One initial measure being considered is to increase local egg production. Haiti aims to increase its national egg production capacity and insists that Dominican poultry exports meet international regulatory standards.
Michel Chancy, former Secretary of State for Animal Production, highlighted the need to revitalize egg production in the country. He believes that with proper infrastructure and government support, Haiti can regain a significant share of the egg market in the next two years.
Chancy, a veterinarian, acknowledged the challenges posed by the closure of the largest egg producing company. However, he noted that other producers remain in operation and are currently supplying the market after the border closure imposed by the Dominican Republic.
According to Chancy, Haitian producers have the potential to compete with Dominican egg exports, even if the border reopens. He stressed the importance of enforcing health standards when importing fresh food. Currently, Dominican eggs enter Haiti without proper authorization and packaging that meets international standards. International food trade regulations require fresh produce, including eggs, to comply with specific sanitary procedures, which Dominican eggs do not currently comply with.