May 3, 2016
Mexico lifts ban on US poultry imports
Mexico has lifted its ban on US poultry products after acknowledging the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) "successful measures" to control the outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) reported since 2014.
Mexico had imposed restrictive measures on poultry and poultry products originating from 15 states. The lifting of the ban, which took effect on April 8, however, did not apply to the state of Indiana.
Among the most important commodities affected by the ban were viscera, offal, meat, table eggs, breaking eggs, SPF (specific pathogen-free) eggs and food preparations (containing poultry products). Fresh meat for further thermal processing and hatching eggs were not affected, according to the USDA.
The USDA forecasts that demand for US poultry products previously restricted will rebound to historical levels as virtually all of Mexico's chicken and turkey meat imports originate from the United States.
Also in April, Mexico opened its market for fresh pig meat and processed hams from Spain, with other EU member states expected to follow, following EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan's visit to that country.