On Feb. 1, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced cattle and bison imports from Mexico will resume utilizing new preventative measures. Imports are scheduled to begin in the next several days.
In November 2024, APHIS halted shipments of Mexican cattle and bison after a positive detection of New World screwworm (NWS) in southern Mexico.
According to the release, APHIS and Mexico agreed to and implemented a comprehensive pre-clearance inspection and treatment protocol to ensure safe movement and mitigate the threat of NWS. APHIS says its top priority is to protect American livestock from foreign pests.
Newly released preventative measures include:
- Mexico identified and prepared pre-export inspection pens in San Jeronimo, Chihuahua, and Agua Prieta, Sonora, which APHIS visited, inspected, and approved.
- Cattle and bison will be inspected and treated for screwworm by trained and authorized veterinarians prior to entering the pre-export inspection pens, followed by inspection by Mexican officials before proceeding to final APHIS inspection before crossing at the Santa Teresa and Douglas Ports of Entry, respectively.
- Cattle and bison approved for importation will also be dipped in a solution to ensure they are otherwise insect- and tick -free.
The United States and Mexico are working closely to approve additional pre-export inspection pens and reopen trade through other ports of entry, the release says.
APHIS will continue working with partners in Mexico and Central America to eradicate NWS from the affected areas and to reestablish the biological barrier in Panama, which has been maintained since 2006.
In the last two years, screwworm has spread north of the barrier throughout Panama and into Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize and now Mexico.
The APHIS release says the increase is due to multiple factors including new areas of farming in previous barrier regions for fly control and increased cattle movements into the region.
APHIS is releasing sterile flies through aerial and ground release at strategic locations, focusing on Southern Mexico and other areas throughout Central America.
A complete list of regions APHIS recognizes as affected by screwworm as well as more detailed information on trade restrictions can be found on the USDA APHIS Animal Health Status of Regions website.
