OIE Certifies Mexico as Classical Swine Fever Free

MEXICO - The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has certified Mexico as free from classical swine fever.
calendar icon 2 June 2015
clock icon 3 minute read

The certification was granted under the OIE Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases, which concluded that Mexico meets the requirements to be recognised as a country free of the disease.

This achievement is the result of joint efforts between the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA), the National Health Service, Food Safety and Quality (SENASICA), producing states and Mexican pork producers.

The recognition was presented during the 83rd General Session of the OIE, by its CEO, Bernard Vallart, the delegate of Mexico to this international body, animal health head at SENASICA Joaquín Braulio Delgadillo Alvarez, and representatives of hog producers from the country.

This recognition benefits nearly one million swine production units, with a herd of more than 16.2 million head and production value estimated at 35 thousand 933 million pesos.

More than two million families are involved in hog production, which generates 350 thousand direct jobs and 1.7 million indirect jobs.

Eradicating the disease in the country improves the production outlook for pork and is likely to improve exports of pork.

The certification provides as well as access to markets both nationally and internationally, on a more competitive basis with less sanitary restrictions.

Mexico was the third Latin American country to achieve eradication of the disease.

In order to achieve the health status of a country free of classical swine fever, Mexico implemented an animal health campaign to eradicate the disease, which was in force from 1973 until 2009.

After complying with the goals and objectives of the program, the country was declared free of the disease and began the process for the OIE recognition, already issued to other nations with high animal health standards, such as Japan and Chile.

Strategic actions were taken to improve the diagnosis, vaccination, and control of movement of pigs, their products, by-products and waste. Disinfection, inspection, control and eradication of outbreaks, and epidemiological surveillance were also improved.

© 2000 - 2024 - Global Ag Media. All Rights Reserved | No part of this site may be reproduced without permission.