National Meat Institute of Uruguay (INAC)

The National Meat Institute of Uruguay (INAC) is an Uruguayan non-state public agency, whose mission is to formulate, advise and execute politics that promote the growth of the meat industry, contributing to the productive, economic and environmental development in benefit of the society.

Their vision is to position Uruguay as a reliable high added-value meat provider, obtaining the recognition of the country brand and that of its companies, increasing the presence in different markets.

According to Law Nº15.605, the INAC has the role of proposing, advising and executing the National Meat Politics, corresponding to the Executive Power in combination with the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries of Uruguay (MGAP).

The National Meat Institute has a wide field of action given that it has to monitor the performance of different species (cattle, sheep, swine, horses, birds) and over different sectors of the complex, fundamentally in reference to the industrialization and commercialization, both in the domestic and foreign markets.

The INAC has the goal of promoting, regulating, coordinating and monitoring the production, transformation, storage, transport and commercialization activities of bovine, equine, porcine, poultry, rabbit and small game meat and their offal, by-products and meat products.

Composition

The INAC is directed and administered by a board of eight members, composed of two delegates of the Executive Power, appointed, one of them, at the proposal of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP), as president, and the other, as vice-president, on the proposal of the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM), and six representatives of the private sector: three representing rural producers (one by the Rural Association, another by the Rural Federation and a third shared between the National Rural Development and Federated Agricultural Cooperatives) and three representing the industrial sectors (Chamber of the Refrigeration Industry, Refrigeration Association of Uruguay and Association of Slaughter Plants of the Internal Market).

Strategic plan (2021-2026)

1. Fundamentals of the strategic plan

Meat chains make a significant contribution to the generation of wealth in Uruguay. They are present throughout the national territory through multiple links (primary production, industrialization, transport, trade, demand for inputs) and are responsible for a significant proportion of employment, investment and exports of the country, by its multiplier effect.

Uruguay is the Latin American country with the highest per capita income and the best distribution of income generated. In order to continue improving both indicators, it is important to strengthen meat chains, generating, in international markets, conditions conducive to their expansion. The promotion must be carried out respecting the mechanisms of justice competition between companies and sectors, as the law mandates INAC.

In recent years, the attack on meat production and consumption has grown internationally. To defend the virtues of the scientifically based product - for its contribution to human nutrition and health, and to maintaining- environment rich in biodiversity - is a priority of the Strategic Plan.

2. General objective of the strategic plan

The general objective is the defense and promotion of the meat sector, for its positive contribution to the quality of life of people who seek a healthy diet and for its wide contribution to society in the economic, social and environmental aspects. It will seek to expand meat production, respecting its international environmental commitments, from current levels (700 000 tonnes) up to an equilibrium level of 1 million tonnes in ten years (2021-2030).

It seeks to promote appropriate quality standards, ensure the integrity of products and processes, increase local and international consumer confidence in our meat, to achieve improved access to international markets and position the country’s meat brand. As a consequence, generate a positive economic impact on employment and boost local development and strengthening the social fabric in rural areas.

The executive action of the INAC will be defined by this plan, which will have an allocation of well-determined human and economic resources, annually prioritized goals, relevant indicators of progress monitoring and periodic evaluations stable by the board of the Institute.

3. Strategic lines

• Establish an agenda that responds to the concerns of consumers and Governments on issues of nutrition and health, as well as regarding the environment and sustainability. Encourage the preparation of studies, synthesize and communicate them effectively in specially designed campaigns.
• Political coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MGAP, MIEM, MEF, UXXI and the private sector to improve access to meat from Uruguay to international markets. Position the country brand both in the domestic market and in the main destinations of interest (China, Germany, USA, Japan, Korea, UK, Southeast Asia, etc.), with shares of market intelligence, business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) promotion.
• Improve information systems to underpin integrity (products and processes) and give business fluidity. Formalize and set simple and achievable standards, promote transparency, fair competition and the good use of the information. Streamline processes, de-bureaucrat the task of inspection and control of commercial quality.
• Development of sectoral public goods to increase production and trade in a sustainable manner, improving the microeconomic aspects of competitiveness. Definition of specific agendas and priorities for each chain short and medium term.

4. Coordination with Institutions and Organizations

Each strategic programmatic line will have different mechanisms of articulation with institutions and agencies.

• The defense of the nutritional and environmental virtues of meat and livestock systems will be done together with the MGAP, Ministry of Environment, INIA, IPA, among others. It will seek to provide technical elements to the construction of the Ministry of Public Health regarding meat and the Ministry of Environment regarding livestock and animal production. 
• This line corresponds to the generation and addition of value. Work on market access will be carried out in coordination with MGAP and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the area of Procarnes. In the main destination (China), INAC is strengthening actions with its first international office, in this case, for Asia. For working on the brand they will coordinate the actions that are necessary with UXXI and other entities involved in the subject. Actions will be carried out on specific commercial channels with alliances with exporting companies and massive campaigns in main destinations aimed at consumers.
• The development of systems integrity has established coordination mechanisms between MGAP and INAC that exist to be promoted. Adjust the work with Customs, create a scope with the Congress of Mayors for joint monitoring of butchers in the interior.
• Improving competitiveness requires specific areas to be defined with MGAP and MIEM, depending on the subject. Enhance innovation for reduced costs and increased productivity.

Contact

545 Rincón St.

Montevideo, Uruguay

(+ 598) 2916 04 30

References

https://www.inac.uy