April 4, 2006

Mexico to accept only one type of bird flu test on imports

Mexico proceeded Saturday (Apr 1) with plans to accept results from only one type of bird flu test on imported products, a change from accepting results from two types of tests, a USA Poultry and Egg Export Council spokesman said.

Mexico also requires that fresh and frozen poultry come from flocks or farms from which 59 samples have been taken and tested negative for bird flu using an ELISA test or, that the flock or farm of origin is registered in the National Poultry Improvement Plan, according to a notice on the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service website.

The USDA had tried to convince Mexican officials to delay the move because the ELISA test is not widely used in the US, said USAPEEC Vice President of Communications Toby Moore.

The USDA also wanted Mexico to declare the US as bird-flu free, and there was confusion within the industry about testing procedures, Moore said. However, he said that he thought the situation had been worked out and that all companies had adjusted.

Mexico recently instituted a new domestic bird flu regulation to require that all Mexican poultry companies test at the flock level in order to be able to sell products to the public, Moore said. If a country enacts a rule that applies to its domestic industry, it can also put the same requirements on imports, which Mexico has done.

Prior to Saturday, Mexico accepted the agar gel test and the ELISA test to sift out possibly contaminated product, Moore said. Now, only the ELISA test will be accepted.