Argentina-Delays in beef export permits.

ARGENTINA.

DELAYS IN EXPORT PERMITS.

The Argentine beef plants are still having problems obtaining beef export permits from the Department of Agriculture, ONCCA.The procedure has become more complicated in recent weeks.

The plants have to submit daily slaughter figures to ONCCA, along with the price paid and weight of slaughtered carcass.The plants must sell 80% of this meat on the home market.

Beef for export cannot exceed more than 50%, of the beef sold for the same period last year and ONCCA must be notified in writing, of proposed exports 10 days prior to anticipated day of production.

Sound complicated, well then the plant has to wait for the documents to be processed, which should take 7 working days, this is where the backlog builds up.

Skeptics say the delays are intentional, one thing is certain the retail prices have come tumbling down, to well within inflation projections caused by the delays in exports.