US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns has announced that the US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has closed the US border to cattle from the Mexican state of Durango due to inadequacies in the bovine tuberculosis (TB) management programme.
Durango is essentially divided into two sections for the purposes of exporting cattle to the United States, with one section allowed to export and one that is not. During a review of Durango's TB management practices, APHIS found that animals from the section not allowed to export were being moved into the region that is allowed to export. This, combined with other conflicts with APHIS guidelines, led to the border closing.
"I called Mexican Secretary of Agriculture Javier Usabiaga on Monday evening to discuss this development and he fully understands the safety concerns that prompted our action," Johanns said. "He also expressed his appreciation for our willingness to assist Mexico with corrective measures so we can resume normal trade with Durango."
Durango is the third largest cattle exporting state in Mexico. Cattle from Durango make up approximately 16.5% of all cattle imported into the United States from Mexico.
