US Restricts Imports of Fresh Pork from Mexico

The US is proposing to amend the regulations governing imports of animals and animal products from M…

The US is proposing to amend the regulations governing imports of animals and animal products from Mexico because of classical swine fever.

Under the proposed rule, pork and pork products would have to come from swine raised on farms meeting stringent sanitary and biosecurity requirements, reports the American Association of Swine Veterinarians.

USDA would also provide safeguards against commingling of the swine and the pork and pork products with animals and products that do not meet the proposed requirements.

Establishments that slaughter the swine from which the pork or pork products are derived would have to allow periodic inspection and evaluation of their facilities, records, and operations by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

This proposed rule would relieve some restrictions on the importation of pork and pork products from Mexico while continuing to protect against the introduction of classical swine fever into the United States.