US to Restart Livestock Commerce with Mexico in Phases from July 7

In a crucial transfer for cross-border commerce and biosecurity, the US Division of Agriculture (USDA) has formally introduced a phased reopening of southern ports for reside animal imports from Mexico, starting July 7, 2025.

The announcement follows weeks of scientific analysis, joint danger assessments, and renewed collaborative efforts between the USDA’s Animal and Plant Well being Inspection Service (APHIS) and Mexico’s Nationwide Division of Well being, Meals Security and Meals High quality (SENASICA).

This determination reverses the USDA’s earlier Could 11 suspension of livestock imports because of the accelerated unfold of the New World screwworm (NWS) — a harmful pest that may trigger lethal infestations in livestock and wildlife. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins stated the reopening displays measurable progress in surveillance, eradication, and biosecurity techniques in Mexico.

Why Imports Have been Halted: Understanding the New World Screwworm Menace

The New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) is a parasitic fly native to the Americas. Its larvae feed on the dwelling tissue of warm-blooded animals, together with cattle, horses, bison, and even people. Screwworm infestations could cause extreme struggling in animals, resulting in tissue injury, an infection, and infrequently loss of life if untreated.

By Could 2025, a number of detections of screwworm infestations in northern Mexico raised purple flags concerning the pest probably crossing into the US, prompting the USDA to take speedy precautionary motion by halting reside cattle, bison, and equine imports.

What Has Modified: Joint Motion by the U.S. and Mexico to Include NWS

For the reason that suspension, each nations have taken pressing steps to regulate the risk and scale back the chance of transboundary unfold.

Key Developments Embody:

• Expanded Surveillance and Eradication Efforts: APHIS and SENASICA enhanced their coordinated pest monitoring techniques and upgraded diagnostic capabilities to detect and hint NWS outbreaks sooner.
  
• Sterile Insect Approach (SIT) Enhancement: The USDA, in partnership with Mexican authorities, has resumed and stabilized every day aerial dispersal of over 100 million sterile NWS flies throughout affected areas. This environmentally pleasant pest management technique disrupts breeding cycles and drastically lowers NWS populations.
  
• On-the-Floor Danger Evaluations: APHIS carried out intensive subject assessments through the first two weeks of June 2025 to judge how successfully Mexico was managing NWS containment. These evaluations helped USDA reclassify danger ranges at totally different entry factors.
  
• Steady Development in NWS Motion: In line with USDA surveillance information, no important northward motion of NWS has been detected within the final eight weeks, and reported instances stay below management inside containment zones in Mexico.
  

Secretary Rollins praised these collaborative efforts, emphasizing that, “The short motion by the Trump Administration, coupled with sustained efforts from our Mexican counterparts, has improved the situations vital for safely resuming livestock commerce below strict safeguards.”

Ports Reopening on a Staggered Timeline

The USDA will reopen southern ports in 5 phases, starting with the lowest-risk area and shifting ahead provided that security situations stay secure.

Port Reopening Schedule:

Every port’s reopening is conditional upon ongoing APHIS evaluations, together with monitoring of NWS motion tendencies, enforcement of inspection protocols, and verification of efficient biosecurity implementation in neighboring Mexican states.

The Douglas port is prioritized resulting from its location close to Sonora, a area with a robust monitor document in livestock well being collaboration with APHIS. Ports in New Mexico and Texas will comply with provided that security protocols are strictly met.

Strict Import Protocols to Reduce Biosecurity Dangers

The USDA has outlined particular, science-based standards for livestock eligibility to reduce any danger of NWS introduction into the U.S.:

Cattle and Bison:

• Should be born and raised in Sonora or Chihuahua, OR
• Should be handled in response to NWS eradication protocols earlier than getting into these states.
• Entry by means of Del Rio and Colombia Bridge will likely be permitted provided that Coahuila and Nuevo León undertake related strict protocols.
• Enhanced animal traceability and well being certifications are required in any respect checkpoints.
  

Equines (Horses):

• Could originate from any state in Mexico, however:
• Should bear a compulsory 7-day quarantine on the U.S. port of entry.
• Should comply with the Equine NWS Protocol, together with inspection and therapy necessities listed on the APHIS horse import tips.
• Equine-specific quarantine amenities can be found on the Santa Teresa port, which is able to assist imports upon reopening.
  

These guidelines are aimed toward stopping any unintended entry of NWS by means of untreated animals, particularly given the historical past of the pest’s speedy reproductive cycle and potential affect on native livestock.

Mexico’s Infrastructure Upgrades to Assist Lengthy-Time period NWS Eradication

In a major step towards regional pest administration, Mexico has begun renovating its sterile insect manufacturing facility in Metapa, a key a part of the NWS eradication technique. Renovation is anticipated to complete by July 2026.

Highlights of the Facility Renovation:

• Put up-upgrade, the ability will produce 60 to 100 million sterile NWS flies weekly.
• Lengthy-term purpose: 400–500 million sterile flies per week to recreate a pest barrier on the Darien Hole—a strategic location between Central and South America.

This enlargement aligns with the USDA’s multi-pronged technique to stop NWS reintroduction, not solely from Mexico however from different elements of Latin America.

As well as, the USDA is working to construct a brand new fly dispersal facility at Moore Air Base in South Texas, which is able to improve U.S. preparedness and emergency response functionality.

Dedication to Cross-Border Training and Producer Consciousness

Each the USDA and SENASICA are engaged in widespread academic outreach to coach ranchers, producers, and veterinarians in recognizing early indicators of screwworm infestation.

Ongoing Measures:

• Public consciousness campaigns alongside the U.S.–Mexico border.
• Workshops and coaching modules on pest identification and emergency protocols.
• Bi-national process forces centered on coordinated motion in high-risk areas.
  

This community-level engagement is essential to stopping the unlawful or undocumented motion of animals, which USDA warns might undo months of containment efforts.

Trade Response: Nationwide Cattlemen’s Affiliation Backs the Plan

The Nationwide Cattlemen’s Beef Affiliation (NCBA) has voiced sturdy assist for the USDA’s methodical and science-led method.

NCBA CEO Colin Woodall acknowledged:

“We’ve labored intently with USDA for months to guard the cattle business. This phased reopening, together with investments in sterile fly manufacturing and inspection, reveals the form of management wanted to stability commerce with illness prevention.”

The NCBA additionally praised USDA’s long-term pest administration blueprint, together with the infrastructure upgrades and improved border inspection procedures.

Trying Forward: Vigilance Will Proceed

Though the reopening begins on July 7, the USDA emphasised that this doesn’t mark the top of the disaster. Elevated surveillance, rigorous inspections, and joint coverage enforcement will proceed effectively into 2026.

Additional port openings past Laredo will rely fully on:

• Mexico’s means to take care of low NWS case counts.
• Steady updates to motion management protocols.
• Ongoing collaboration with APHIS on containment measures.
  

As Secretary Rollins concluded, “We is not going to relaxation till we’re assured that the New World screwworm is not going to cross our border and hurt American ranchers.”