Mexico announces partial lift of U.S. beef ban; By Bill McDowell for meatingplace.com on March 4, 2004:The Mexican Ministry of Agriculture announced Wednesday night that it would reopen its borders to U.S. boneless beef from animals less than 30 months of age.

Although the announcement had been anticipated for some time, officials said earlier this week that the border opening could be delayed by up to two weeks, pending final approval from the Mexican Health Ministry.

The move comes two months after Mexico ceased all imports of U.S. beef following discovery of a BSE-infected Dairy cow in Washington state.

 "I am very pleased that today Secretary Javier Usabiaga of Mexico is announcing that he is reopening the border to U.S. beef products," Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said in a statement released Wednesday night.
   
"We have worked closely with the Mexican officials to inform them of all the actions USDA has taken to further strengthen our food safety and animal health systems since the discovery of a BSE positive animal last December. We have provided to Mexican officials extensive information as requested, and have hosted their technical teams to illustrate that our beef is indeed safe," she said.

Mexico will permit imports of beef from U.S. facilities approved by the Mexican government that handle only animals under 30 months of age or that have acceptable segregation procedures.

Mexico will continue to ban beef from advanced meat recovery, mechanically deboned beef, beef trimmings or ground beef.

The Ministry of Agriculture also said it would continue its risk analysis for other products beyond boxed beef.

American Meat Institute President J. Patrick Boyle also released a statement Wednesday urging Mexico to resume full trading.

"We are encouraged that the government of Mexico will seek to restore limited imports of U.S. boneless beef products," he said. "However, we believe full trade in all beef products and in live animals from the U.S. should be restored swiftly."

"We urge the Mexican government - and all trading partners - to adopt trade policies based on the facts and on sound science," he said. "Trade in cattle and beef by BSE minimal risk nations like the U.S. and Canada is well within the parameters of guidelines issued by the Office of International Epizootics (OIE). It is time that all nations began operating within OIE's guidelines."