On 13 October 2010 the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fishery and Food (SAGARPA) announced it would be establishing and implementing a new online system for issuing a Zoosanitary Requirements Sheet (Hoja de Requisitos Zoosanitarios; HRZ) for the importation of animal products, effective 13 December 2010. The Animal Health General Directorate (DGSA) personnel offered and held some informational sessions on the new procedures 19 October 2010. SAGARPA officials also held a number of sessions to review any potential disruptions that might occur in transition to the new system prior to the December release.

As of 13 December 2010, all importers of record are responsible for accessing the MCRZI (Zoosanitary Import Requirements Consult Module (Modulo de Consulta de Requisitos Zoosanitary para la Importacion)) in order to obtain an HRZ. Any HRZ obtained using the old method, prior to 13 December 2010 has an expiration date of 60 days after issuance. A 'User Guide' is also available to importers to assist them in obtaining an HRZ in the system by accessing products combination code or via advanced search.

The transition period ends to 9 February 2011. If the product HRZ is not available procedures are further outlined for importers in USDA FAS GAIN Report MX1515. All products regulated by SAGAPRA under Article 24 of the Animal Health Law with an existing HRZ describing import requirements are affected. The objective of the new system is to simplify administrative procedures and facilitate the trade of animal products from the US and Mexico's other suppliers.

Consumption

In 2010, Mexican per-capita consumption of chicken is forecast to be unchanged from 2009 (25.88kg), while per-capita consumption of turkey is projected to be 1.78kg, up 0.34kg from 2009 (1.44kg). Over the past 10 years, poultry meat consumption has been increasing in Mexico, i.e. broiler 30 per cent and turkey 36 per cent. Overall red meat consumption is expected to increase in Mexico in 2011, i.e. beef, 1.4 per cent and pork, 1.0 per cent.

Trade

In 2010, Mexico was the largest export market for both US chicken and turkey meat. The US is expected to continue as Mexico's top supplier of broiler (95 per cent) and turkey (98 per cent) meat in 2011 with the remainder of imports from Chile and Canada. Mexico is projected to import four per cent more chicken cuts and mechanically deboned meat and 10 per cent more turkey meat in 2011. Mexico imported 397,587 metric tons (MT) of US broiler meat from January-November 2010, eight per cent higher than 2009's total of 369,935 MT. From January-November 2010, Mexico imported 130,107MT of US turkey meat, up eight per cent from 2009 (120,172MT). Mexico is forecast to import 1.5 per cent less beef and 20 per cent more hogs in 2011. Despite retaliatory duties imposed on US bone-in pork cuts, imports are expected to continue though increased imports are expected from Canada. USDA FSIS Library of Exports recently updated the approved plant list of US establishments eligible to export to Mexico. To view, click here.
Source: USDA FAS Gain Reports MX1515, MX0090, MX0320, MX0064, MX0059, and MX0501/USDA FAS PS&D Online/UNA/USDA FSIS.

Further Reading

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