11 November 2025: Joint minutes of the third meeting of the subcommittee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures under the association agreement between the United Kingdom and Central America
Updated 10 February 2026
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The third meeting of the subcommittee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures (SPS) under the agreement establishing an association between the United Kingdom and Central America took place on 11 November 2025, through written correspondence.
1. Members of the subcommittee, approval of the agenda, and agreement on the Rules of Procedure
The UK and the Central American countries approved the agenda and exchanged details of the members of the subcommittee. As previously, information on the use of the Rules of Procedure was exchanged.
2. Assessing the operational conclusions from the second UK- Central America SPS committee
There were no operational conclusions recorded from the last meeting which was also through written correspondence.
3. Topics of interest of the Central American countries with the UK
No items for discussion or exchange were proposed by Central America.
4. Topics of interest of the UK with the Central American countries
4.1 Panama: requirement for factory inspection as a condition to import salmon and dairy products into Panama
The UK acknowledged the engagement of the Panamanian authorities regarding the UK’s interest in exporting dairy products and non-live aquatic products. Next steps and further engagement were noted.
4.2 Guatemala: export health certificate (EHC) for bovine genetic material in Guatemala
The UK thanked Guatemala for their engagement and cooperation to progress on this request so that approval of the EHC was completed this year.
4.3 Costa Rica: export health certificate (EHC) for ovine semen in Costa Rica
The UK thanked Costa Rican authorities for their engagement and cooperation to resolve this request so that approval of the EHC was completed this year.
4.4 Information exchange: presentation on the Precision Breeding Act
The UK provided some information on the Precision Breeding Act (Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023) which passed into law in England in 2023. It was hoped that this would provide some useful information on the act, and provisions of this act under which a new science-based and streamlined regulatory system will be introduced. The UK welcomed any questions on the new regulations and the approach taken in England.
4.5 Costa Rica: Import requirements for salmon
The UK acknowledged the sharing of the import requirements by Costa Rica for frozen farmed or wild-caught salmon or trout. Further clarification was sought regarding management of the authorisation of processing establishments.
Costa Rica clarified and provided further information in response to the queries from the UK.
5. Calendar of the SPS sub-committee meetings
The parties decided the timing of the next meeting would be coordinated via the secretariats from each country.
6. Summary of the meeting and operational conclusions
All parties would finalise a summary of the meeting and written operational conclusions after the meeting.
It was hoped the information shared for this third UK–Central America SPS sub-committee was useful.