April 12, 2006

 

US raises concern over Mexico's consideration of beef import rule

 

 

Mexico's recent consideration of proposals to restrict beef imports from the US has producers and exporters in the US worried at a time when most other major foreign beef markets remain closed or heavily restricted.

 

Twice this year Cofemer, Mexico's equivalent of the US Office of Management and Budget, rejected similar proposals containing stricter standards for boneless beef imports and US officials are waiting to see if there will be a third.

 

The two proposed versions of the rule sought to set a zero tolerance on unwanted bone fragments in shipments of "boneless" US beef and that is something US exporters cannot comply with, US meat industry representatives said.

 

Lynn Heinze, a spokesman for the US Meat Export Federation, said, "from the manufacturing perspective, it's virtually impossible to be absolutely pure in that respect ... and certain bone pieces have absolutely no safety concern."

 

After the first rejection in January, Mexico's agriculture department, referred to there as Sagarpa, revised the proposal and resubmitted it for review in March. Later that month it was again rejected.

 

"The proposed draft ... was rejected twice by Cofemer and now it's back in Sagarpa's hands," said a US government source, speaking on condition of anonymity. "And we know that they're taking a look at it and they're considering whether to resubmit it to Cofemer. And that's about all we really know right now."

 

USDA officials, who also asked not to be named, said they believe it's premature to react to a rule proposal, especially because it has been twice rejected and will likely change if resubmitted to Cofemer a third time.

 

But, one USDA official stressed, the US has "voiced concerns" to Mexico.

 

John Reddington, vice president of the American Meat Institute (AMI), said there is reason for concern.

 

"Having a zero tolerance on bone fragments for boneless meat" would cause an "impediment to trade," Reddington said. "There's no way the US industry can meet a zero standard. We don't have a zero standard in the US."

 

In fact, the US, Mexico and Canada agreed years ago under the North American Free Trade Agreement that minimal amounts of bone fragments in meat shipments are not a food safety concern, according to USDA officials.

 

Reddington said AMI, which represents most US meat packers, has contacted the US Trade Representative and the USDA with their concerns over the Mexican proposal.

 

Reddington said he was glad the proposal has been twice rejected, but the prospect of a third try is worrisome.

 

For two years Mexico sometimes has rejected individual shipments of US beef when inspectors find bone fragments in "boneless" beef cuts and some US companies have been "de-listed" from those eligible to export, said a US meat industry representative who asked not to be named.

 

Mexico bought US$550 million worth of US beef in 2005 and is expected to buy more this year.