Honduras

The system allows the importer to register with SENASA, enter all the data and required documents of the product to be imported, and have the import permit in a few hours. The average time it takes to issue an import permit has been reduced about 90 percent from over three working days to less than four hours. Then, SENASA transfers the import permit electronically to SEPA at the port of entry and the importer.

The Government institutions involved in the customs clearance process for imported food and agricultural goods are the National Plant, Animal Health, and Food Safety Service (SENASA), Sanitary RegulationAgency (ARSA) and the Honduran Customs Administration (ADUANAS). Because of the recent creation of ARSA, the number of inspectors at customs is limited and cover more than one post. SENASA delegated the responsibility of all quarantine inspections and treatments of agricultural imports to the International Regional Organization for Plant and Animal Health (OIRSA). OIRSA’s Plant and Animal Protection Service (SEPA) inspectors are located at the borders, ports, and airports. SEPA follows SENASA’s instructions to enforce the import requirements of raw animal and plant products, processed and consumer-ready foods (dairy, meat, seafood, and honey products) as well as raw materials from these same categories used in food processing at the time of entry. ARSA officials inspect additives, raw materials, and consumer ready foods from other categories. ADUANAS officials review that the invoice complies with the Government  revenue tariff.

1. Compliance of requirements indicated on the import permit approved by SENASA.
2. Electronic documentation review: consistency of information across all original documents submitted in the Import Permit, Phyto or Zoo sanitary Export Certificate, Certificate of Origin, Commercial Invoice, Bill of Lading and Packing List such as: names of importer, exporter, shipment’s content, amounts, product description, and country of origin and point of shipping. Import documents do not need to be translated into Spanish.
3. The SEPA inspector conducts an inspection of the product. SENASA requests and enforces that the products of animal origin display the production and expiration date on the shipping carton(s) and are stamped on the primary package upon arrival at the port. The dates must be provided in the Day/Month/Year format (DD/MM/YYYY). These requirements are closely inspected at theports of 24 entry. SENASA is flexible with the wording, but the most common issue is that the dateis not printed at all both on the primary (SEPA is adamant on this one even for bulk products such as meat cuts) and tertiary package (carton box).
4. The entry of animal products and by-products depends on the food safety conditions of the product itself. It also depends on the exporting country’s current animal health and pest’s status.In cases that a quarantine pest is found, a treatment will be applied by SEPA’s Quarantine Treatment Services (SITC) unit prior to allowing the product to enter the country. When a non- quarantine pest is found alive or dead, the quarantine treatment will not be applied.
5. Product samples and mail orders are subject to the same import regulations as all other products.
6. The entire customs clearance procedure depends on various factors such as: the type of submission (electronic/hard copy) of all the documents to Customs, that the documents comply with all the requirements, or if a pest is found, among others. In cases where the documents show discrepancy, or a pest is found, SENASA issues a notification of detained/or rejected product.
7. Product sampling is done randomly. It is taken from animal products origin, seeds that the import permit requires it, and when bacteria or fungi are found. Samples are submitted to laboratory analysis to check the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the product.
8. The specialized container and cargo terminals in Puerto Cortes (Honduras’ main port) took over the loading and unloading cargo operations. The “Operadora Portuaria Centroamericana” (OPC) loads and unloads containers. The “Terminal Especializada de Honduras” (TEH) manages the bulk cargo.