Source: Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE, 4/19/16


The Mexican government has lifted its ban on poultry exports from 14 U.S. states, instituted 15 months ago in response to the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in 2014 and 2015, according to media reports.

Trade restrictions have been lifted on poultry from all states except Indiana, which saw its most recent HPAI outbreak earlier this year.

“This is a result of USDA’s close communications with Mexico to reduce trade restrictions imposed due to HPAI detections in the United States,” USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement. “By persuading other trading partners to enforce regionalized bans that affect only those areas where HPAI was detected, and to rely on internationally accepted science-based standards for trade, USDA has helped preserve billions in U.S. poultry exports.”

Mexico has been the largest market for U.S. poultry and poultry products since 2010. In 2015, U.S. exports of poultry and poultry products to Mexico reached $1.2 billion, accounting for 25 percent of total U.S. shipments, USDA said.

The National Chicken Council said in a statement, “Mexico is an extremely important export market for US chicken, so the lifting of these bans is not only welcome news for US chicken producers, but for Mexican consumers, as well. We want to thank those at USDA, USTR and in Congress who have been working hard to reopen these markets and fight for a regionalization approach to these trade issues.”

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