An export trading company established under rules of the US Departments of Commerce and Justice has received an export trade certificate of review to administer the quota volume of 21,800 metric tons of chicken legs, under the terms of the Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement finalised in 2005.
The export trading company will be governed by a multinational board of directors and the administrator will implement an auction system to disperse export certificates based on bids submitted by importers in the four Central American countries (El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala) and the Dominican Republic.
Initially the entire quota of 21,800 metric tons for 2006 will be assigned to Guatemala. Two auctions will be held in August and September 2006 respectively.
Proceeds from the auction will be used to cover the administrative costs of the programme and to fund export market development, educational, scientific and technical projects in the USA and the importing countries. It is noted that the projected volume of exports represents 0.88% of the projected 2006 volume of 2.48 million metric tons.