The Texas Department of Agriculture's Del Rio Livestock Export Facility has reopened to horse exports to Mexico following negotiations between USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Mexico's National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA), Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced.

With immediate effect, horses bound for Mexico for reproduction, sport, exhibition, work or transit may again be exported through Del Rio, where livestock undergo the required export inspections before crossing the border. The department runs several such facilities along the Texas-Mexico border.

Horse exports have faced extra animal-health rules because of the New World screwworm threat. Under current USDA requirements, horses from or passing through screwworm-infested zones face additional inspection, documentation and, where needed, treatment; APHIS has posted the guidance and documentation requirements on its International Regulations (IRegs) pages.

"Biosecurity and commerce have to work hand in hand," Miller said. "We can protect Texas livestock from New World screwworm without unnecessarily shutting down legitimate agricultural trade." The department said it will keep working with federal, state and Mexican officials on livestock trade.

Photo: Billy Hathorn / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Source: Morning Ag Clips