New food export regulations to Haiti take effect this Tuesday

Haiti.-  As of October 1, Haiti will begin enforcing regulations that allow the refusal of perishable and prepackaged foods from the Dominican Republic if they lack proper health registration or fail to meet labeling standards in French or Creole. In response, merchants and businesses in Dajabón are expediting efforts to secure the necessary certifications for products like chicken, eggs, and vegetables.

Noel Fernández, president of the Dajabón Binational Market Association, has been coordinating with the Ministry of Public Health to ensure compliance. The new labeling requirements mandate detailed information in French or Creole, including product name, ingredients, quantity, and expiration date—posing a challenge for Dominican exporters accustomed to Spanish labels.

The Dominican Association of Exporters and the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic are negotiating with local authorities to find solutions. The mayor of Dajabón criticized the measures as “radical” and expressed concerns about their impact, especially on vulnerable communities in Haiti. As the deadline approaches, Dominican merchants are working to meet the new standards while hoping for a possible suspension of the regulations to allow more time for adjustments.

Source: Dominicana al dia