Mexico                                   

Mexico                                                                                         

Bone-In Beef Can Now Be Shipped

The United States can now export bone-in beef to Mexico. The online FSIS Export Library of Requirements has been updated, and the Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) Web site now reads:

4.2 Bone-in beef and bone-in beef products must meet the following requirements:

4.2.1 Be derived from cattle younger than 30 months of age at the time of slaughter and processed using the procedures verified by FSIS as incorporated into the facility's HACCP, Sanitation SOP's, or prerequisite program; and

4.2.2 Slaughter procedures must ensure the hygienic removal of designated tissues comprising the skull, brain, eyes, tonsils, spinal cord, and small intestine.

Plants must be on the AMS list to be eligible.

Mexico’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries, and Food Products (SAGARPA) announced on February 1 that it will now allow the U.S. and Canada to export bone-in as well as boneless beef from animals of 30 months or less to Mexico. After an initial ban on all U.S. beef in December 2003, Mexico opened the border to boneless beef in March 2004. Even after the opening to bone-in product, Mexico forbids import of U.S. ground beef and intestine.

Mexico                                                                                         

Bone-In Beef Can Now Be Shipped

The United States can now export bone-in beef to Mexico. The online FSIS Export Library of Requirements has been updated, and the Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) Web site now reads:

4.2 Bone-in beef and bone-in beef products must meet the following requirements:

4.2.1 Be derived from cattle younger than 30 months of age at the time of slaughter and processed using the procedures verified by FSIS as incorporated into the facility's HACCP, Sanitation SOP's, or prerequisite program; and

4.2.2 Slaughter procedures must ensure the hygienic removal of designated tissues comprising the skull, brain, eyes, tonsils, spinal cord, and small intestine.

Plants must be on the AMS list to be eligible.

Mexico’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries, and Food Products (SAGARPA) announced on February 1 that it will now allow the U.S. and Canada to export bone-in as well as boneless beef from animals of 30 months or less to Mexico. After an initial ban on all U.S. beef in December 2003, Mexico opened the border to boneless beef in March 2004. Even after the opening to bone-in product, Mexico forbids import of U.S. ground beef and intestine.