Series of Border Training Seminars Concludes in Mexico City
Published: Oct 18, 2011
USMEF recently conducted the last in a series of seven border training seminars aimed at addressing problems that frequently confront U.S. meat exports at the U.S.-Mexico border. The series was held in cooperation with the Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS), the U.S.A. Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) and the Mexican Meat Council (COMCARNE) with financial support from the Pork Checkoff and Beef Checkoff Programs and the USDA Market Access Program (MAP). While the seminars are generally conducted near ports of entry, the final session was held in Mexico City to encourage attendance by key officials from SAGARPA (Mexico’s department of agriculture) and SENASICA (Mexico’s sanitary and phytosanitary regulatory agency).
“Each of these seminars has allowed us to interact with a very important audience, including border inspectors and customs agents,” said Dr. Nelson Huerta, USMEF technical services director. “Building these relationships has allowed us to address and correct many issues at the border, often without having them escalate to the federal level. But having said that, we felt it was important to hold a final, wrap-up seminar in Mexico City because outreach with officials in the central government is also instrumental to our goal of maintaining a smooth flow of products and commerce.”
A key focus of the seminars was to educate officials on the very low incidence of cancellations and rejections of U.S. meat products due to sanitary causes. Presentations illustrated the effectiveness of vacuum packaging, chilling/freezing processes and advanced transportation methods in extending the storage and shelf life of these products, and the importance of maintaining a cold chain all the way to the end users in Mexico.
“Our presentations also focused on a study that USMEF conducted with one of Mexico’s largest meat processors and a major importer of U.S. pork,” Huerta said. “This study helps to dispel criticisms that have been directed at U.S. red meat for many years by various interest groups in Mexico, questioning the freshness and safety of U.S. products. We presented very convincing data, which carried added credibility because of our collaboration with a well-respected Mexican company.”
Mexico is the leading volume market for both U.S. pork and beef exports, and ranks second for both in terms of value. Through August (including variety meat), this year’s pork exports totaled 344,875 metric tons (760 million pounds) valued at $654 million. Beef exports totaled just under 170,000 metric tons (375 million pounds) valued at $646 million. But Huerta says it is very important not to take this success for granted, and educational seminars represent a worthwhile investment in a market that is critical to the profitability of U.S. producers, processors and exporters.
“Even with the remarkable level of business our industry conducts with Mexico and the positive nature of our trading relationship, we still confront myths and misinformation regarding U.S. products,” he explained. “These seminars are an excellent way to ensure that we are communicating with Mexican officials in a proactive way and on an ongoing basis, and not just when shipments encounter a problem at the border.”
“Each of these seminars has allowed us to interact with a very important audience, including border inspectors and customs agents,” said Dr. Nelson Huerta, USMEF technical services director. “Building these relationships has allowed us to address and correct many issues at the border, often without having them escalate to the federal level. But having said that, we felt it was important to hold a final, wrap-up seminar in Mexico City because outreach with officials in the central government is also instrumental to our goal of maintaining a smooth flow of products and commerce.”
A key focus of the seminars was to educate officials on the very low incidence of cancellations and rejections of U.S. meat products due to sanitary causes. Presentations illustrated the effectiveness of vacuum packaging, chilling/freezing processes and advanced transportation methods in extending the storage and shelf life of these products, and the importance of maintaining a cold chain all the way to the end users in Mexico.
“Our presentations also focused on a study that USMEF conducted with one of Mexico’s largest meat processors and a major importer of U.S. pork,” Huerta said. “This study helps to dispel criticisms that have been directed at U.S. red meat for many years by various interest groups in Mexico, questioning the freshness and safety of U.S. products. We presented very convincing data, which carried added credibility because of our collaboration with a well-respected Mexican company.”
Mexico is the leading volume market for both U.S. pork and beef exports, and ranks second for both in terms of value. Through August (including variety meat), this year’s pork exports totaled 344,875 metric tons (760 million pounds) valued at $654 million. Beef exports totaled just under 170,000 metric tons (375 million pounds) valued at $646 million. But Huerta says it is very important not to take this success for granted, and educational seminars represent a worthwhile investment in a market that is critical to the profitability of U.S. producers, processors and exporters.
“Even with the remarkable level of business our industry conducts with Mexico and the positive nature of our trading relationship, we still confront myths and misinformation regarding U.S. products,” he explained. “These seminars are an excellent way to ensure that we are communicating with Mexican officials in a proactive way and on an ongoing basis, and not just when shipments encounter a problem at the border.”