USMEF Board Of Directors Meeting & International Buyers Conference, May 2...
Brochure and Registration Form USMEF International Buyers Conference Product Showcase Registration Kit Unofficial Translation of NOM - NMX-FF-081-SCFI-2003
Newly Published Mexican Norm Applicable to Pork Products, Carcasses, and Pork Fresh-grading.
Mexico
New Bacteria Regulation Will Not Be
Implemented This Week
The new regulation from the Mexican Secretariat of Health requiring testing for Salmonella, E. Coli, Staphylococcus, and botulism due to come into force today (April 1) will not be implemented this week. The new documentation is thus not needed for exports crossing into Mexico this week.
This is a postponement only, however. The Mexican authorities plan to publish the new regulation online this week and to enforce the regulation after approval by Mexico’s Federal Regulations Commission (COFEMER).
Mexico’s National Cattle Breeders Association (CNG) published an open letter to President Vicente Fox, the Secretary of Economics and the Health Secretary in today’s major Mexican newspapers applauding the new rule’s ostensible goal of inspecting meat imports to protect human health and its potential to protect the domestic meat industry.
When the rule is finally implemented, it will require importers to obtain an import permit from the Secretariat of Health by submitting a document with the following information provided by the exporter:
1. A health certificate
2. An original label
3. A label in Spanish
4. An invoice or pro-forma invoice
5. Receipt of payment of the certification fee (original and 2 copies)
The health certificate is required to verify that the product meets USDA-FSIS requirements, and that the processor complies with good hygiene and sanitation practices and the appropriate laboratory analysis for the type of product.
This system will not replace the existing SAGARPA permit system, but is a parallel system to allow for the inspection of meat for bacteria.
USMEF and the Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) are monitoring the situation closely. The health ministry does not currently have sufficient numbers of inspectors to conduct widespread inspections. USMEF-Mexico will remain in close contact with the U.S. Embassy, the Mexican Meat Council and the National Retailers Association (ANTAD) to follow up on the issue. USMEF will keep members informed through the USMEF Web site (http://www.usmef.org/) and the Export Newsline.