The Mexican government is making regulatory changes which will lift restrictions on the import of U.S. beef and beef products derived from cattle over 30 months of age and removes the last of Mexico’s bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) related restrictions, according to the Prairie Farmer.
This change will open new supply options for Mexico, according to Chad Russell, U.S. Meat Export Federation regional director for Mexico, Central America and the Dominican Republic. In these markets—where many consumers are price sensitive—the new available supply of beef cuts would be favorable to those consumers, as well as to the U.S. beef industry, Russell noted.
The 30-month cattle age limit has been in place for more than 10 years.
Regulations under the new rule are to be effective immediately, although shipments of over-30-month beef cannot begin until the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) updates its export library to reflect the changes.