May 16, 2006

Mexico resumes wheat import from California

Wheat shipments from California to Mexico have resumed after a 10-year ban due to Karnal bunt, US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced Friday (May 12).

Johanns said he is pleased with the development, adding that Mexico's action supports science as the language for international trade.

Johanns said that while governments need import measures that safeguard crops from disease, import regulations should be based on internationally recognised guidelines.

Mexico banned wheat from the southwestern United States after the first detection of Karnal bunt in Arizona in 1996.

In June last year, the US and Mexico agreed to recognize certain wheat-producing areas in California, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico as free of Karnal bunt.

Mexico is the United States' third largest export market for wheat, with sales of US$459 million in 2004.

Karnal bunt is a fungal disease of wheat and durum wheat and is propagated through the movement of infected seed.