New Protocols for Export of U.S., Canadian Cattle to Mexico
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a press release announcing that, effective March 28, 2008, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Mexico's Secretara de Agricultura, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have established protocols for the export of U.S. and Canadian cattle to Mexico.
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The new protocols, which USDA has also made available, are consistent with World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) standards.
(The USDA states that the harmonization of the standards in North America reaffirms the U.S. position that cattle can be traded safely when countries follow the OIE standards for effectively managing the risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and further ensures that trade protocols for Canada, Mexico and the U.S. are consistent between the countries and with OIE.)
Mexico Requires Health Certificate for Cattle Imports from U.S.
Mexico's import health requirements for the U.S. state that cattle must be accompanied by a U.S. Origin Health Certificate in English and Spanish issued by a veterinarian authorized by the USDA and endorsed by a Veterinary Services veterinarian.
This certificate must contain the name and address of the consignor and the consignee and individual identification of the animals indicating the breed, sex, age, and tattoo number and/or eartag of the animals to be exported.
Additional information in the form of thirteen certification statements is required, such that the animals: were born in or were legally imported into the U.S. from North America; were born after January 1, 1999; are identified with a permanent identification system recognized by the USDA; etc.
In-Transit Permit Required for Transit Shipments from Canada to Mexico, Etc.
Canadian exporters will need to obtain import permits from APHIS and SAGARPA, as well as a health certificate from CFIA. Shipments will be inspected by U.S. and Mexican officials.
The protocol to transit bovines from Canada to Mexico states, among other things, that the shipper must obtain an In-Transit Permit from USDA Veterinary Services, and importers/exporters must make a reservation with the States of Arizona or New Mexico or the Texas Department of Agriculture for pen space at the port of inspection.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 09/20/07 news, 07092010, for BP summary of an Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service final rule establishing conditions for the importation of live bovines, etc. from regions that present a minimal risk of introducing BSE.)
USDA contact - Rachel Iadicicco (301) 734-3255
USDA press release (Release No. 0087.08, dated 03/27/08) available at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2008/03/0087.xml
Import Health Requirements of Mexico for Breeding Cattle from the U.S. available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2008/03/content/printable/mx_bo_breeding.pdf
Protocol to Transit Bovines from Canada to Mexico (dated March 2008) available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2008/03/content/printable/CN_US_MX_Transit_Bovine_3_27_08.pdf