US waits for Mexico to build new cattle facility

The US is waiting for Mexico to build a new cattle facility near San Luis, Arizona, so that full cattle trade can be resumed.

Mexico is required to build a facility that could properly handle cattle that are sent into the US.

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a final rule that adds San Luis as a port to control the import of Mexican cattle infested with or exposed to fever ticks or tick-borne diseases.

To protect US livestock, federal regulations require cattle from Mexico be inspected individually at APHIS-approved facilities at Mexico's border. The cattle must be certified as ticks-free. If ticks are found, the cattle must be dipped in a solution to kill the parasites and be quarantined for 10-14 days before being re-inspected. The process will be repeated if additional ticks are found during the re-inspection.

APHIS will suspend cattle imports through the San Luis port until the new complex is constructed, and is equipped with facilities that allow proper chute inspection, dipping and testing required under APHIS regulations.