U.S., MEXICO AND CANADA ANNOUNCE TRADE PROTOCOLS FOR CATTLE

News Date April 02, 2008

       Agricultural officials from the United States, Canada, and Mexico on March 28 announced protocols to harmonize standards for the export of U.S. and Canadian breeding cattle to Mexico consistent with international trading standards. The announcement was made after a series of meetings between the three countries to discuss a variety of agricultural trade issues. 
       The new protocols outline conditions for the export of U.S. and Canadian cattle to Mexico. Mexico denied access to U.S. breeding stock beginning December 23, 2003, when the U.S. announced its first-ever case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Since that time, Mexico has only allowed importation of registered U.S. dairy heifers under the age of 24 months, despite in-depth international negotiations to include breeding stock. The protocols allow for the trade of breeding cattle born after Jan. 1, 1999, consistent with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) standards. Canadian exporters will need to obtain import permits from USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS); Mexico's Secretar¡a de Agricultura, Ganader¡a, Desarrollo Rural, Pesca y Alimentaci¢n (SAGARPA), as well as a health certificate from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Shipments will be inspected by U.S. and Mexican officials. 
       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. The protocols further a 2005 agreement to more effectively address the BSE risk in North America. In May 2007, the OIE formally classified the U.S. as a controlled risk country for BSE. This status confirmed that U.S. BSE regulatory controls are effective and that U.S. beef and beef products of all ages can be safely traded. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)