As a result of a recent pseudorabies detection in Iowa, Mexico closed its border to U.S. pork offal products for more than a month.
According to U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) estimates, since its implementation, the closure has cost U.S. exporters roughly $7 million per week. Although some offal shipments to Mexico have resumed, restrictions on products from Iowa and Texas remain in place.
USMEF Mexico Trade Manager Rigoberto Treviño highlighted the importance of pork offal and variety meats for Mexican cuisine.
According to Treviño, the limited availability of U.S. pork offal products is frustrating not only U.S. exporters but also Mexican retailers, restaurants, and consumers.
Despite rising prices due to shrinking supply, Treviño believes that USMEF’s efforts to promote U.S. pork offal in the Mexican market have successfully increased demand.
The World Organization for Animal Health recently certified that the pseudorabies virus found in five boars in Iowa was an isolated event and that it has been successfully contained. USMEF continued to communicate with U.S. trade officials as they work to remove the remaining Mexican trade restrictions on U.S. pork offal products.
