Mexico increases imports of U.S. beef
The Mexican government has outlined new requirements for the import of U.S. beef products, such as certain meat cuts, veal and tallow.
According the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which welcomed the announcement, American beef shippers will regain access to a market that accounted for $746 million, or 74 percent of about $1 billion in exports, of beef and tallow to Mexico in 2003.
For more information about Mexico’s new requirements, access online: http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/arc/1000arc.pdf.
Mexico, along with numerous other countries, banned U.S. beef shipments after discovery of a Washington state cow infected with bovine spongiform encepthalopathy, or “mad cow” disease, in late December. Mexico reopened its market to U.S. boneless beef imports March 3.
The United States, Mexico, and Canada are working together to harmonize regulations related to mad cow disease in North America, USDA said.