Voluntary Report - public distribution

**Date:** 08/24/2004

**GAIN Report Number:** MX4106

MX4106

**Mexico**

Livestock and Products

**BSE Update (Ninth Edition)**

2004

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)David Williams

#### U.S. Embassy Mexico City

**Prepared by:**

Sal Trejo/David Williams

**Report Highlights:**

Mexico has again modified its BSE ban, this time to allow imports of
beef based preparations, beef/pork based preparations, beef/sheep based
preparations and beef/pork/poultry based preparations.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

Mexico \[MX1\]

\[MX\]

**Mexico Expands List of Beef Products Eligible for Importation**

The Government of Mexico (GOM) recently established import requirements
for beef based preparations, beef/pork based preparations, beef/sheep
based preparations and beef/pork/poultry based preparations. At this
point, SAGARPA, has formally rejected APHIS/FAS's request that sheep or
products obtained from sheep come from a country that has in place
regulations that prohibit the feeding of ruminants with meat and bone
meal and greaves. Currently SAGARPA's requirements state "that in the
country of origin there exists animal health regulations in force that
prohibit the feeding of ruminants with ruminant based proteins, except
milk and milk products." Currently, the only restrictions on sheep are
for sheep for breeding. Sheep for slaughter have been approved for some
time.

### The BSE Banned List 

The following products are currently banned by SAGARPA.

Live cattle

Bone-in meat

Boneless meat from cattle 30 months of age or older

Bovine offal and viscera other than those currently authorized

Products derived from non-protein-free tallow

Protein-free tallow fit for human consumption

Gelatin and collagen prepared from bone

Ruminant meal

\*\*Live sheep for breeding (added since the initial ban)

\*\*A lifting of this ban is expected soon.

**Products Exempt from the BSE Ban**

The following products are exempt from the BSE ban.

Boneless beef from cattle under 30 months of age

Marinated boneless beef from cattle under 30 months of age

\*Beef based preparations, beef/pork based preparations, beef/sheep
based preparations and beef/pork/poultry based preparations

Veal de-boned or bone-in

Hearts, kidneys, tongue and lips from cattle under 30 months of age

Diaphragm and trimmings from cattle under 30 months of age

Tripe from cattle under 30 months of age

Meat, carcasses, viscera, and heads from sheep under 12 months of age

Meat, carcasses, and viscera from goats under 12 months of age

Liver

Milk

Dairy products

Semen

Embryos

Protein-free tallow not fit for animal consumption

Dicalcium phosphate (DCP)

Skins and hides

Gelatin and collagen obtained from hides and skins

Pet Food (see MX4040 for more details)

Sausage made from beef and pork with or without cheese

SAGARPA will consider establishing import requirements for processed
beef preparations not currently approved, if the products do not differ
substantially from products that are currently authorized. Once
established, the requirements will be available for any company to use.
Companies should work with their importers and be prepared to provide
documentation about their product composition and expect to wait a few
weeks for approval. Inquiries should be directed to:

Dr. Lourdes Molina,

Tel. (525) 9183-1000 Ext. 33973

Fax. (525) 9183-1000 Ext. 33945

\*SAGARPA has recently established import requirements for processed
beef preparations including mixtures of beef with pork, sheep and
poultry meats if the products do not differ substantially from the raw
products that are currently authorized. The authorized import
requirement sheets (HRZ) for the above products are as follows:

Current import requirements for processed beef are provided on the
following pages. These requirements will be in effect until September
30, however, effective September 30, 2004, the following additional
provisions will be required for processed beef products, marinated beef,
beef based meat preparations, beef/pork based meat preparations,
beef/sheep based meat preparations, and beef/pork/poultry based meat
preparations.

1.  That from the slaughtered ruminants from which the product was
    obtained, the risk materials were eliminated (brain, cranium, eyes,
    trigeminal ganglion, spinal cord, spinal column, ganglionic dorsal
    spine, bone medulla, tonsils and small intestine).

2.  That the ruminant materials used in the preparation of the products
    are not risk materials (brain, cranium, eyes, trigeminal ganglion,
    spinal cord, spinal column, ganglionic dorsal spine, bone medulla,
    tonsils and small intestine).

3.  That the preparation of the product to be exported does not contain
    meat obtained through advance meat recovery nor mechanically
    separated.

4.  That the meat used in the preparation of the product was obtained
    from ruminants slaughtered on or after March 5, 2004.

> Also in addition to the marinated beef HRZ currently approved by
> SAGARPA, the following modifications to the original requirements will
> be implemented on September 30, 2004:

1.  That from the slaughtered ruminants from which the product was
    obtained, the risk materials were eliminated (brain, cranium, eyes,
    trigeminal ganglion, spinal cord, spinal column, ganglionic dorsal
    spine, bone medulla, tonsils and small intestine).

2.  That the preparation of the product to be exported does not contain
    meat obtained through advance meat recovery nor mechanically
    separated.

3.  That the meat used in the preparation of the product was obtained
    from ruminants slaughtered on or after March 5, 2004.

The requirements outlined in this report are subject to change without
notice. Exporters should work closely with their importers and consult
the requirements in the Food Safety and Inspection Service export
library

COURTESY TRANSLATION

SPECIE BOVINE

FUNCTION/PRODUCT MEAT BASED PREPARATIONS

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

COUNTRY OF SHIPMENT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

COMBINATION 5-1-21-USA-USA

REQUIREMENTS

Present Original International Sanitary Certificate from the official
authority of the country of origin that specifies the following:

1)  That the product is from the country of origin as indicated in this
    document as origin.

2)  That the product is approved for human consumption.

3)  That the meat used in the elaboration of the product originates in
    the country shown in this document as country of origin.

a\) That the meat used to elaborate the product was obtained from
healthy animals inspected ante and post moretem and slaughtered at
installations authorized by the Department of Agriculture of the Unide
States (USDA) where only animals of less than 30 months of age are
slaughtered or at a plant that has acceptable procedures of complete
segregation, that allows the official from USDA to identify and select
the products to export.

b\) That the product was obtained from animals under the age of 30
months of age, determined by records that demonstrate the age or through
post mortem inspection in which it must be verified that the animals
from which the product was obtained have two incisive permanent teeth or
less.

c\) That the ruminants from which the raw material to elaborate the
product as obtained were not fed with meat and bone meal or greaves of
ruminant origin.

> d\) That the animals from where the product was obtained were not
> stunned, by means of gas injection in the craneal cavity or cutting of
> the spinal cord by laceration of the central nervous tissue, by means
> of introducing a sharp cutting instrument in the craneal cavity or
> that the meat used to elaborate the product was legally imported from
> Australia or New Zealand

4)  That the product to be exported does not include meat trimmings,
    advanced meat recovery, mechanically separated meat and ground meat.

5)  That the establishment where the finished product was elaborated is
    under official control.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS TO COMPLY;

6)  Submit original and simple copy of the quality control certificate
    issued by the manufacturing company. The personnel from the Office
    of Animal, Plant Health Inspection (OISA) will only retain the copy
    after verifying the document.

7)  The shipment and documentation of the imported products must comply
    with the provisions established in Article 24 of the Federal Animal
    Health Law.

8)  ONLY PRODUCTS OBTAINED FROM ANIMALS SLAUGHTERED ON OR AFTER MARCH 5,
    2004 WILL BE AD INTO THE COUNTRY.

COURTESY TRANSLATION

SPECIE BEEF/SHEEP

FUNCTION/PRODUCT MEAT BASED PREPARATIONS

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

COUNTRY OF SHIPMENT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

COMBINATION 21-1-21-USA-USA

REQUIREMENTS

Present Original International Sanitary Certificate from the official
authority of the country of origin that specifies the following:

1)  Name and address of the importer.

2)  That the product is from the country of origin as indicated in this
    document as origin.

3)  That the product is approved for human consumption.

4)  That the product was processed at an establishment under official
    control.

5)  That the ruminants from which the raw material to elaborate the
    product was obtained were not fed with protein of ruminant origin,
    except milk and milk proteins.

6)  That in the country of origin of the product there exist animal
    health regulations in force that prohibit the feeding of ruminants
    with proteins of ruminant origin, except milk and milk proteins.

7)  That the animals were slaughtered in installations under official
    control and are dedicated exclusively to the slaughter of animals
    under the age of 30 months and/or that the plant has acceptable
    procedures for complete segregation that permits the official from
    the corresponding competent health authorities to identify and
    select the products to be exported.

8)  That the product was obtained from animals under the age of 30
    months of age, determined by records that demonstrate the age or
    through post mortem inspection in which it must be verified that the
    animals from which the product was obtained have two incisive
    permanent teeth or less

9)  That the animals from where the product was obtained were not
    stunned, by means of gas injection in the craneal cavity or cutting
    of the spinal cord by laceration of the central nervous tissue, by
    means of introducing a sharp cutting instrument in the craneal
    cavity

10) That in the raw materials of ruminant origin employed in the
    elaboration of the products do not correspond to specific risk
    materials were eliminated (brains. cranium, eyes, ganglions, spinal
    cord, spine, ganglonic dorsal chain, osseous marrow; tonsils or
    distal ileum).

At the presentation of the shipment to the Plant and Animal Health
Inspection Office (OISA):

11) The official inspector from plant and animal health will perform the
    physical and documentation inspection of the shipment.

12) The importer must indicate in writing the specific destination of
    the product.

COURTESY TRANSLATION

SPECIE BEEF/PORK

FUNCTION/PRODUCT MEAT BASED PREPARATIONS

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

COUNTRY OF SHIPMENT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

COMBINATION 3-1-21-USA-USA

REQUIREMENTS

Present Original International Sanitary Certificate from the official
authority of the country of origin that specifies the following:

1)  That the product is from the country of origin as indicated in this
    document as origin.

2)  That the product is approved for human consumption.

3)  When the meat used in the elaboration of the product is of U.S. or
    Canadian origin, the following must be certified:

a\) That the meat used to elaborate the product was obtained from
healthy animals inspected ante and post moretem and slaughtered at
installations authorized by the Department of Agriculture of the Unide
States (USDA) where only animals of less than 30 months of age are
slaughtered or at a plant that has acceptable procedures of complete
segregation, that allows the official from USDA to identify and select
the products to export.

b\) That the product was obtained from animals under the age of 30
months of age, determined by records that demonstrate the age or through
post mortem inspection in which it must be verified that the animals
from which the product was obtained have two incisive permanent teeth or
less.

c\) That the ruminants from which the raw material to elaborate the
product as obtained were not fed with meat and bone meal or greaves of
ruminant origin.

> d\) That the animals from where the product was obtained were not
> stunned, by means of gas injection in the craneal cavity or cutting of
> the spinal cord by laceration of the central nervous tissue, by means
> of introducing a sharp cutting instrument in the craneal cavity.

4)  That the product to be exported does not include meat trimmings,
    advanced meat recovery, mechanically separated meat and ground meat.

5)  That the raw material of porcine origin used in the elaboration of
    the product originated in a country free of classical porcine fever
    (NOM-037-ZOO-1995)

6)  That the establishment where the finished product is elaborated is
    under official control.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS TO COMPLY:

7)  Submit original and simple copy of the quality control certificate
    issued by the manufacturing company. The personnel from the Office
    Animal Plant Health Inspection (OISA) will only retain the copy
    after verifying the document.That in the elaboration of the product
    no ruminant protein was used, except milk and milk proteins.

8)  The shipment and documentation of the imported products must comply
    with the provisions established in Article 24 of the Federal Animal
    Health Law.

COURTESY TRANSLATION

SPECIE BEEF/PORK/POULTRY

FUNCTION/PRODUCT MEAT BASED PREPARATIONS

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

COUNTRY OF SHIPMENT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

COMBINATION 57-1-21-USA-USA

REQUIREMENTS

Present Original International Sanitary Certificate from the official
authority of the country of origin that specifies the following:

1)  Name and address of the importer.

2)  That the product is from the country of origin as indicated in this
    document as origin.

3)  That the product is approved for human consumption.

4)  That the product was processed at an establishment under official
    control.

5)  That the animals from which the raw material to elaborate the
    product was obtained were not fed with protein of ruminant origin,
    except milk and milk proteins.

6)  That in the country of origin of the product there exist animal
    health regulations in force that prohibit the feeding of ruminants
    with proteins of ruminant origin, except milk and milk proteins.

7)  That the animals were slaughtered in installations under official
    control and are dedicated exclusively to the slaughter of animals
    under the age of 30 months and/or that the plant has acceptable
    procedures for complete segregation that permits the official from
    the corresponding competent health authorities to identify and
    select the products to be exported.

8)  That the product was obtained from animals under the age of 30
    months of age, determined by records that demonstrate the age or
    through post mortem inspection in which it must be verified that the
    animals from which the product was obtained have two incisive
    permanent teeth or less.

9)  That the animals from where the product was obtained were not
    stunned, by means of gas injection in the craneal cavity or cutting
    of the spinal cord by laceration of the central nervous tissue, by
    means of introducing a sharp cutting instrument in the craneal
    cavity.

10) That in the raw materials of ruminant origin employed in the
    elaboration of the products do not correspond to specific risk
    materials were eliminated (brains. cranium, eyes, ganglions, spinal
    cord, spine, ganglonic dorsal chain, osseous marrow; tonsils or
    distal ileum).

11) That the product to be exported does not include meat trimmings,
    advanced meat recovery, mechanically separated meat and ground meat.

12) That the country of origin is free of classical porcine fever
    (*pestivirus*).

13) That the country or region of origin is free of the Newcastle
    disease in its velogenic presentation and avian influenza, or,
    certify that the raw materials of avian origin with which the
    product was elaborated were subjected to a cooking process with a
    temperature no less than 60ºC for a time of no less than 10 minutes
    or commercial pasteurization or sterilization indicating
    temperatures and times. As an equivalent to this requirement an
    internal cooking temperature of no less than 68ºC is acceptable.

At the presentation of the shipment to the Plant and Animal Health
Inspection Office (OISA):

14) The official inspector from plant and animal health will perform the
    physical and documentation inspection of the shipment.

15) The importer must indicate in writing the specific destination of
    the product.

16) The shipment and documentation of the imported products must comply
    with the provisions established in Article 24 of the Federal Animal
    Health Law.

### Secretariat of Health Has Its Own Ban

A listing of the Secretariat of Health's banned products of bovine
origin follows:

Hormones

Insulin

Enzymes for digestive therapy

Gel capsules made from cartilage or bone

Sutures

Laboratory growth media

Bile extracts

Gelatin (conflict with SAGARPA)

Any products regulated by the Secretariat of Health made from Specified
Risk Materials

Food supplements

Blood serum

Common ingredients in beauty products

Dehydrated broth (subject to prior notice)

Instant soups (subject to prior notice)