Agricultural Quarantine Personnel Inspect Christmas Trees in the United States before Shipping Them to Panama

Recently, technical personnel from the Executive Directorate of Agricultural Quarantine of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) visited the state of Oregon, United States, to conduct inspections and sampling at the pre-shipment point of Christmas trees arriving in Panama.  As part of these efforts, samples were taken from seven containers of Christmas trees that will be exported to our country.  The entity reported that the main purpose of this activity is to ensure that the trees meet the phyto-sanitary requirements established by the National Directorate of Plant Health, avoiding the need for inspection and sampling upon arrival at the Panamanian port.   

According to MIDA, this step ensures that the trees entering the country are free of pests and any type of contaminant, protecting the national phyto-sanitary heritage.  For this year’s holiday season, a significant number of containers of Christmas trees are expected to arrive in Panama, coming not only from the United States but also from Canada.  These containers are expected to arrive during the first weeks of November 2025, marking the start of the official import of natural trees for the holiday season.