In an official declaration, the Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food, Francisco Javier Mayorga Castañeda said that the country had implemented measures for the diagnosis, control, eradication and surveillance of both active and passive forms of the disease through epidemiological surveys conducted throughout the whole of Mexico's poultry production.

He said the declaration of Mexico as a Newcastle Disease free zone would aid the marketing of poultry products and by-products and have a positive effect on poultry production in the country.

He said the industry that is valued at 1.5 billion pesos will now become more competitive and profitable.

To ensure the country remains free of the disease Snr Mayorga Castañeda said it was essential that Mexico continues to implement sanitary measures for diagnosis, prevention, control, surveillance, the control of movement of poultry, transport, transit, marketing and traceability of poultry products and byproducts, as well as implements used in poultry production that are contained in the Mexican Official Standard.