Chile and Argentina: Patagonia's Status Settlement

Background

In July 2025, Argentina decided to relax the sanitary barrier separating the foot-and-mouth disease-free zone without vaccination (Patagonia) from the vaccinated zone covering the rest of the country. This change allowed the import of bone meat from vaccinated regions into Patagonia, which in turn caused concern among the Chilean authorities. In response, Chile suspended the import of animals and animal products from Patagonia, which caused considerable controversy between the two countries.

Objectives of the mission

The main objective of the Chilean mission will be to assess the epidemiological conditions and verify the sanitary measures applied at the border. Specialists from the Chilean Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) intend to collect information on the current health status of animals, as well as the measures taken to prevent the spread of diseases. This will allow the Chilean authorities to make an informed decision on whether to resume imports.

Impact on trade

Although the decision to suspend imports has generated much discussion, the actual impact on the economies of both countries has been minimal. Most of the meat exported by Argentina to Chile is boneless beef from vaccinated areas and is therefore not subject to restrictions. However, the restrictions affect the supply of breeding animals and genetic material, as well as lamb, the export volumes of which are so small that they are not included in the statistics of the National Institute of Statistics and Census of Argentina (INDEC).

Outlook and conclusions

The Chilean authorities have already stated their intention to resolve the situation as quickly as possible, which could lead to the restoration of normal trade between the countries. The successful completion of the mission and the establishment of reliable sanitary barriers could not only improve trade, but also strengthen trust between the neighbors.

Chile’s mission to Argentina in early September will therefore be an important step in restoring mutually beneficial relations in the field of livestock and trade. It is important that both sides work to establish a safe and sustainable system that will ensure the protection of animal health and the interests of agricultural producers.