Mexican Poultry Producers Claim That Excessive Red Tape Impede Access To Us Market

According to the Mexican Poultry Producers Association (UNA), exporting locally produced poultry and egg products to the US market is not yet possible due to cumbersome regulations and procedures enforced by both USDA and the Mexican Department of Agriculture. The UNA, however, has recognized that local poultry companies have not yet made the investments and facility improvements required for compliance with USDA regulations.

Without these investments, the Mexican Government is not strongly pressing USDA to move forward on this issue. The UNA pointed out that industry needs to export products and seek to balance poultry trade prior to NAFTA’s complete opening of the border to imports of US chicken leg quarters in 2008.

Mexican Poultry Exports Slowed

The possibility of exporting powdered eggs and processed chicken from Mexico to the U.S. has been delayed until mid-2006, due primarily to the bureaucracies in Mexico and the United States, according to Cesar de Anda Molina, president of the National Poultry Union (UNA).

He also attributes the delay to the Mexican poultry producers that have yet to invest in systems improvements required by USDA. He explained that the necessary improvements have not been made for lack of adequate financing. Since the beginning of 2004, the Mexican poultry industry has sought the advice of USDA on exporting processed chicken and powdered eggs to the American market.

For poultry producers, access to this market represents potential sales between US$ 40-50 million in the first year. The leader of the national poultry producers emphasized the urgency of balancing the level of Mexican poultry exports and imports, since in 2008 the anti-dumping duty that the Mexican industry achieved for chicken leg quarter imports will be eliminated, posing a serious risk for Mexico’s poultry industry.
Source: USDA/FAS

Cambodia Works to Prevent Spread of Avian Influenza

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has become endemic in Asia. Thailand and Vietnam reported new cases in January 2005. Cambodia reported a case of HPAI in chickens near Phnom Penh, the capital, in February 2005.

Cambodia ordered border officials to tighten an existing ban on poultry imports. Teams of government health and agriculture officials started traveling across the country’s southwest looking for signs of infected people and poultry, and advising villagers on how to avoid contracting the disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the wintry weather and rising trade in poultry can result in a widespread outbreak.

The FAO and OIE issued a joint statement of February 1, 2005 urging the international community to help poorer countries with avian influenza prevention and containment.
Source: Center for Infection Disease Research & Policy; OIE; news wires To view the full report, including tables please click here

Source: USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service - 15th February 2005