April 7, 2011
 

US increases inspection on Mexican poultry

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers will be checking thoroughly to ensure that cooked poultry products entering the US from Mexico are not affected by exotic Newcastle disease.

CPB said USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is implementing new requirements for processed (including cooked) poultry meat and cooked, hard-boiled eggs brought by passengers from regions APHIS believes are affected by exotic Newcastle disease. Mexico is one of them.

The new protocol requires that poultry meat brought into the US by travellers from Mexico must be accompanied by government certification confirming it was cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 Fahrenheit, or it must be accompanied by a USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services import permit. CBP is required to take action when encountering poultry meat and eggs without the required certification.