Santo Domingo.- Local producers demand an understanding between the Dominican and Haitian governments to lift Port-au-Prince’s ban on the country’s poultry products, in effect since 2008, and the recent ban on salami imports, a situation they affirm means losses in the millions.

Dominican salami exports to Haiti have plunged 85.8%, after the Consumer Protection Agency (Pro Consumer) revealed the presence of fecal coliform bacteria and low protein content.

Although Haiti officially banned salami imports on 27 July, Haitians buy small portions at the border markets, with similar sales of eggs and chickens, especially the one in Dajabón, according to Manuel Escaño, head of the egg producers grouped in Asohuevos.

He said they produce 360 million eggs annually and half of that stays in the Dominican Republic, which he affirms undercuts their value.

Jose Lopez, president of the Cibao meat processors association, said salami exports to the neighboring country have fallen. "Before Pro Consumer’s complaint we sold from 6 to 7 million dollars a month to the Haitians, but that figure has dropped to less than one million dollars on the black market," he said, quoted by diariolibre.com.

Lopez blamed Haitian meat business leaders for what he called a boycott of Dominican sausages across the border.

Deadlock could come to an end

Haitian lawmakers visited Cibao (north)  meat procssing plants in August, to verify the making of salami, sausage and other products.

After touring the factories, the lauded the quality of the manufacturing process and said they would take their observations  to the Haitian government.