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USDA approves Mexican pork imports

 

Mexican states are now able to export pork into the U.S.

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has recognized Mexico as free of Classical Swine Fever after the completion of a risk assessment done at the request of the Mexican government.

Nearly ten years ago, Mexico requested access to the U.S. for pork exports but APHIS at the time said the country’s control program for the viral disease was not sufficient enough to allow trade.

A grant through USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service provided Mexican officials training in foreign animal disease diagnostics and a follow up review by the World Organization for Animal Health has determined Mexico is free of the disease.

National Pork Producers Council president Ken Maschhoff says maintaining a good relationship with fair and reciprocal trade with the pork industry’s number two export market is imperative and welcomed the announcement.