. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/466 
9 February 2004 
 
 (04-0486) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   Spanish 
  
 
ACTION BY MEXICO REGARDING THE IMPORTATION OF LIVESTOCK 
GOODS REPRESENTING A ZOOSANITARY RISK 
 
Communication from Mexico
 
 
 
1. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) is a progressive neurological disorder of cattle 
caused by infection with a non-conventional transmi ssible agent (prion);  the risk factors can be 
mitigated, for example, by primary dissemination through the use of ruminant feed containing proteins and other products of rumina nt origin infected by the prion.  In Mexico, BSE is considered an 
exotic disease, for which reason preventive measures need to be to maintained and strengthened to 
avoid it being introduced into Mexico and spreading throughout the country. 
2. On 23 December 2003, the secretariat of the United States Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) announced that an adult Holstein cow in the State of Washington was suspected of having 
BSE, and this was confirmed on 25 December 2003 by the reference laboratory in Weybridge, 
United Kingdom. 
Action to prevent entry of products representing a risk to livestock health 
 
3. In response to the first native case of BSE in the United States of America, and in view of the 
health regulations issued by the World Organizati on for Animal Health (OIE), the Government of 
Mexico, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Liv estock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food 
(SAGARPA), has decided to apply such measures to mitigate the risk of introducing BSE into Mexico 
as a ban on tourist and commercial imports of live bovines, meat, viscera, offal, meat preparations, 
products from non-deproteined tallow, gelatine and collagen prepared from bones, as well as 
ruminant-derived meal.  Milk and milk products , semen, embryos, protein-free tallow, dicalcium 
phosphate, hides and skins, gelatines and collagen obta ined from hides and skins are exempt from this 
prohibition.  On 23 December 2003, the SAGARPA Directorate-General of Animal Health (DGSA) 
notified the Directorate-General of Phytozoosanitary  Inspection (DGIF) of the list of animals and 
products of animal origin that are prohibited from entering Mexico.  On the same date, the USDA was 
informed of these precautionary measures. 
4. On 6 January 2004 the United States and the Mexican authorities held a meeting at which 
SAGARPA asked the USDA for additional informati on on the timeframe for implementation of the 
risk mitigation procedures and me asures.  In addition, to assess in situ  the additional measures and 
action taken by the United States to strengthen its sy stems for BSE and better public health protection, 
three SAGARPA officials visited the United States fro m 12 to 16 January 2004 and were able to see 
the surveillance measures applied a nd the initiatives that will be taken by the USDA with regard to 
BSE. 
5. The DGIF was notified on 14 January 2004 of th e zoosanitary requirements for imports of 
balanced cat and/or dog food and the prohibition on impor ts of vaccinations and bacteria for exclusive 
use in ruminants. G/SPS/GEN/466 
Page 2  
 
 6. On the basis of these communiqués the DGIF in formed the General Customs Administration 
of the Tax Administration Service (SAT) of the cancellation of imports of the above-mentioned 
products.  A ban was also placed on unloading food waste from ships and aircraft, and the 
Agricultural and Livestock Health Inspection Office s (OISAs) at ports, airports and borders, as well 
as the Federal Inspection points at Quarantine Areas,  were instructed to tig hten the inspection and 
surveillance measures to prevent the introduction or movement of risk goods through tourists, by 
using the 320 phytozoosanitary o fficials who have included a furt her 187 professionals hired since 
2001, to avoid introducing foot-and-mouth and other exotic diseases into Mexico. 
7. These prohibitions will apply until sufficient information is obtained on the diagnosis, 
prevention, control and eradication mechanisms to analyse and determine the risk of introducing and 
spreading BSE, by importing products and by-product s of animal origin into Mexico and to introduce 
the requisite sanitary measures to prevent this happening.  
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