Mexican Government Takes Additional Steps to Limit Pork Imports

Mexico                                                               

Mexican Government Takes Additional Steps to Limit Pork Imports

In response to a nonbinding resolution passed by the Mexican Congress on November 22, 2007, and signed by the presidents of Mexico’s three leading political parties, the Mexican Ministers of Agriculture and  Economy have notified the Congress that the government will undertake several administrative actions that could seriously jeopardize exports of U.S. pork to Mexico.  Mexican authorities are reviewing the list of U.S. plants and establishments approved to export U.S. pork to Mexico with the objective of removing from the list entities that consolidate pork consignments for onward export to Mexico.  Shipments from U.S. consolidators may be prohibited entry into Mexico as early as this week, according to a reliable source.  Furthermore, the Mexican government is also evaluating the possibility of prohibiting other commercial intermediaries who do not have facilities to store and properly manage pork from exporting to Mexico.  If these two actions were to be implemented, only approved U.S. meat packing plants would be permitted to export.

In addition, in response to political pressure, Mexico’s Meat Processors’ Association (Comecarne) has agreed to purchase approximately 6,000 tons of pork from Mexican Suppliers in addition to its members’ regular requirements, increase purchases of bacon from the Mexican market, and not to import frozen pork legs for three months.

USMEF’s Regional Director in Mexico, Chad Russell, has a meeting scheduled tomorrow with Senator Guillermo Padres Elias, president of the Commission for Agriculture and Livestock, at which this issue will be raised.   USMEF also understands that a telephone call between Acting Secretary Connor and his Mexican counterpart to discuss this issue is being arranged for later today.  In addition, the USDA in Mexico Cityhas been engaging the Mexican Ministry of Economy over the past several weeks not to impose a safeguard.   In their letter to the Congress, the Ministers of Economy and Agriculture state that they have concluded that an imposition of a safeguard is not feasible. 

China               

China Re-Lists Six Out Of Seven Delisted Pork Plants

On Dec. 13, China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) notified the Agriculture Office at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing that China has decided to allow the import of pork products from six U.S. pork processing plants delisted in 2007. According to the Foreign Agriculture Service, this action came after an on-side audit conducted by AQSIQ technical officials during Nov. 26–Dec. 3, 2007. The six plants include establishments 18079, 17D, 717, 717CR, 717M, and 3-W.  The plants inspected were delisted earlier after detection of ractopamine residues that are currently banned in China. 

According to AQSIQ’s rule, re-listing of the delisted plants requires an on-site audit in the delisted plants and an evaluation based on the audit result. AQSIQ’s evaluation result determined that the six plants have established and implemented a control system segregating swine fed with feed containing ractopamine. The relisting takes effect as Dec. 13.  

Mexico                                                               

Mexican Government Takes Additional Steps to Limit Pork Imports

In response to a nonbinding resolution passed by the Mexican Congress on November 22, 2007, and signed by the presidents of Mexico’s three leading political parties, the Mexican Ministers of Agriculture and  Economy have notified the Congress that the government will undertake several administrative actions that could seriously jeopardize exports of U.S. pork to Mexico.  Mexican authorities are reviewing the list of U.S. plants and establishments approved to export U.S. pork to Mexico with the objective of removing from the list entities that consolidate pork consignments for onward export to Mexico.  Shipments from U.S. consolidators may be prohibited entry into Mexico as early as this week, according to a reliable source.  Furthermore, the Mexican government is also evaluating the possibility of prohibiting other commercial intermediaries who do not have facilities to store and properly manage pork from exporting to Mexico.  If these two actions were to be implemented, only approved U.S. meat packing plants would be permitted to export.

In addition, in response to political pressure, Mexico’s Meat Processors’ Association (Comecarne) has agreed to purchase approximately 6,000 tons of pork from Mexican Suppliers in addition to its members’ regular requirements, increase purchases of bacon from the Mexican market, and not to import frozen pork legs for three months.

USMEF’s Regional Director in Mexico, Chad Russell, has a meeting scheduled tomorrow with Senator Guillermo Padres Elias, president of the Commission for Agriculture and Livestock, at which this issue will be raised.   USMEF also understands that a telephone call between Acting Secretary Connor and his Mexican counterpart to discuss this issue is being arranged for later today.  In addition, the USDA in Mexico Cityhas been engaging the Mexican Ministry of Economy over the past several weeks not to impose a safeguard.   In their letter to the Congress, the Ministers of Economy and Agriculture state that they have concluded that an imposition of a safeguard is not feasible. 

China               

China Re-Lists Six Out Of Seven Delisted Pork Plants

On Dec. 13, China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) notified the Agriculture Office at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing that China has decided to allow the import of pork products from six U.S. pork processing plants delisted in 2007. According to the Foreign Agriculture Service, this action came after an on-side audit conducted by AQSIQ technical officials during Nov. 26–Dec. 3, 2007. The six plants include establishments 18079, 17D, 717, 717CR, 717M, and 3-W.  The plants inspected were delisted earlier after detection of ractopamine residues that are currently banned in China. 

According to AQSIQ’s rule, re-listing of the delisted plants requires an on-site audit in the delisted plants and an evaluation based on the audit result. AQSIQ’s evaluation result determined that the six plants have established and implemented a control system segregating swine fed with feed containing ractopamine. The relisting takes effect as Dec. 13.