Mexico Strengthens Shrimp Import Security Measures

In a concerted effort to enhance security measures governing legal shrimp imports, the Mexican Government, led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), is executing a comprehensive strategy to minimize the risk of introducing economically significant pests and diseases. The initiative aims to benefit both domestic fishermen and shrimp farmers.

Javier Calderón, Director, National Service of Health, Safety, and Agri-food Quality (SENASICA), highlighted that in late September 2023, Mexico was acknowledged as free from Taura syndrome in cultivated shrimp, reinforcing the country's sanitary status. This recognition not only safeguards the industry but also streamlines the marketing of national shrimp products and by-products. The shrimp sector, valued at over MX$18.8 billion (US$1.1 billion), plays a crucial role in Mexico's economic landscape.

The official emphasized SADER’s commitment to ensuring that legally imported agri-food products meet the highest global standards of health, safety, and quality. To achieve this, the agency oversees the enforcement of five federal laws, aimed at protecting national food supply, boosting the competitiveness of local producers, and upholding Mexico's international reputation as a major exporter of agri-food products.

Calderón underscored that, in accordance with the World Trade Organization's Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS), Mexico establishes science-based regulations to guarantee the health and safety of imported food during commercial transactions, avoiding protectionist and unfair practices. He clarified that SENASICA does not authorize imports from countries with quarantinable pests and diseases, such as Taura syndrome. Simultaneously, the organization vigilantly monitors the sanitary measures of authorized production plants sending shrimp to Mexico.

Juan Gay Gutiérrez, Director General of Animal Health, SENASICA, announced that a team of veterinarians and biologists would visit Central American countries, with which Mexico engages in aquaculture product exchanges, to reevaluate the sanitary conditions of their breeding units in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Octavio Almada, National Commissioner of Aquaculture and Fisheries, stressed the crucial role played by various Mexican government bodies in protecting the livelihoods of thousands of families reliant on fishing and shrimp farming.