Some Canadian Cows Can’t Enter Mexico Through Texas

AUSTIN (AP) – The Texas agriculture commissioner on Tuesday prohibited certain Canadian cattle from crossing into Mexico through state facilities after learning that the U.S. had not approved allowing trade of some animals.

Reports first indicated the U.S. had signed off on an agreement between Canada and Mexico that permitted trading of specific dairy and beef cattle under 30 months old – including breeding stock.

But Todd Staples, the state’s ag commissioner, learned that U.S. Department of Agriculture officials had not approved the deal. Currently, Mexico only allows U.S. dairy heifers under the age of 24 months to be imported, despite in-depth international negotiations to broaden this to breeding stock.

The trading agreement, Staples said in a statement, is not consistent with international standards set by the World Organisation of Animal Health.

If the USDA permits the cattle to cross into this country from Mexico, they won’t come through any of Texas’ livestock export facilities along the border, according to the statement. The export sites are in Brownsville, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, El Paso and Laredo.

There are also two privately owned operations in Texas. “I have instructed TDA employees overseeing the agency’s livestock export facilities along the Mexican border to not facilitate the trade of any Canadian cattle that would be inconsistent with the protocol for exporting U.S. cattle to Mexico,” Staples said.

Staples is asking states that border Mexico to follow Texas’ lead. New Mexico and Arizona have three export facilities between them. “Please remember your most important customers – the U.S. livestock producers,” Staples said.

“Until Mexico recognizes (the animal health group’s) trading standards and begins to accept U.S. breeding cattle consistent with those standards, we will continue this firm prohibition of specific Canadian cattle.”

After the December 2003 discovery of mad cow in a Canadian-born animal in the state of Washington, the U.S. worked with Mexico and other global trading partners to re-establish beef and live cattle trade consistent with international standards.

Several countries have recognized those standards and are accepting U.S. live cattle. In May 2007, the world organization formally classified the U.S. as a controlled risk country for BSE, which with strong U.S. regulatory safeguards allows broad trade of beef and live cattle consistent with international standards.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)