APHIS is Requiring New Cattle Facility in Mexico

The United States has done its part. Now it is up to Mexico to build a new facility near San Luis, Arizona capable of properly handling cattle being imported into the United States. USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a final rule that adds San Luis as a port to control the import of Mexican cattle infested or exposed to fever ticks or tick-borne diseases. Meant to protect U.S. livestock, federal regulations require that cattle from Mexico be inspected individually at APHIS-approved facilities on the Mexican side of the border. They must be certified as being free of ticks. If ticks are found, the cattle must be dipped in a solution to kill the parasites. The cattle are then quarantined for 10 to 14 days before being re-inspected. If additional ticks are found, the process must be repeated. APHIS will prohibit the import of cattle into the United States through the San Luis port until a new facility for handling livestock is constructed on the Mexican side of the border and equipped with facilities that allow proper chute inspection, dipping and testing required under APHIS regulations.