Mexico Current HRZs Should Suffice Through November 12

Mexico                                                                                         

Current HRZs Should Suffice Through November 12

The USDA met with representatives of Mexico’s Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries, and Food Products (SAGARPA) yesterday on the issue of the validity of Hojas de Requistos Zoosanitarios (HRZ). The Office of Agricultural Affairs in Mexico City gave USMEF the following summary of the meeting:

1. USDA was told that a notice will be issued to border inspectors on Friday (Oct. 29) telling them that they should continue to disregard (as they have done since early October) the new requirements currently scheduled to become effective on Oct. 30.
2. USDA and SAGARPA agreed that this waiver will be in effect until Nov. 12 to provide exporters/importers and USDA with sufficient time to prepare for the adjustment to the new requirements.  Hence, with the waiver in place, importers will continue to be able to export with the HRZs they purchase today through Nov. 12.
3. USDA doubts that the new HRZs will be available for purchase or viewing until Wednesday of next week (Nov. 3).  Tuesday is a holiday in Mexico.
4. Once USDA has the HRZs, it will translate them and send them to the Food Safety And Inspection Service (FSIS) for the FSIS Export Library of Requirements, which will probably take another three working days.
5. HRZs are technically effective for 60 days, but, since the waiver of the October 30 requirements will be in place until November 12, companies could run a risk of problems at the border after November 12 with the old HRZ.  

The HRZ issue will not stop FSIS from issuing export certificates for Mexico.

Mexico                                                                                         

Current HRZs Should Suffice Through November 12

The USDA met with representatives of Mexico’s Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries, and Food Products (SAGARPA) yesterday on the issue of the validity of Hojas de Requistos Zoosanitarios (HRZ). The Office of Agricultural Affairs in Mexico City gave USMEF the following summary of the meeting:

1. USDA was told that a notice will be issued to border inspectors on Friday (Oct. 29) telling them that they should continue to disregard (as they have done since early October) the new requirements currently scheduled to become effective on Oct. 30.
2. USDA and SAGARPA agreed that this waiver will be in effect until Nov. 12 to provide exporters/importers and USDA with sufficient time to prepare for the adjustment to the new requirements.  Hence, with the waiver in place, importers will continue to be able to export with the HRZs they purchase today through Nov. 12.
3. USDA doubts that the new HRZs will be available for purchase or viewing until Wednesday of next week (Nov. 3).  Tuesday is a holiday in Mexico.
4. Once USDA has the HRZs, it will translate them and send them to the Food Safety And Inspection Service (FSIS) for the FSIS Export Library of Requirements, which will probably take another three working days.
5. HRZs are technically effective for 60 days, but, since the waiver of the October 30 requirements will be in place until November 12, companies could run a risk of problems at the border after November 12 with the old HRZ.  

The HRZ issue will not stop FSIS from issuing export certificates for Mexico.