USDA Reinstates Mexico Cattle Ban After Screwworm Case

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced July 9 it is reinstating a ban on cattle imports from Mexico, just two days after reopening the border to livestock from Sonora and other states, following the confirmation of a new case of New World screwworm in Veracruz.

The USDA said the recently detected case raises concerns about the accuracy of previous reports by Mexican authorities and significantly impacts the reopening schedule for five livestock ports, originally planned between July 7 and Sep. 15.

“After detecting this new case, we are pausing the planned port reopening to continue quarantining and attacking this deadly pest in Mexico,” said US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. “We must see additional progress in the fight against screwworm in Veracruz and nearby states to reopen cattle ports along the southern border.”

The USDA is calling for stricter controls, animal movement, enhanced surveillance, and the implementation of scientifically proven containment measures. In June, the agency launched a Screwworm Eradication Plan aimed at strengthening border protections and supporting eradication efforts in Mexico.

As part of that initiative, the USDA recently inaugurated a sterile fly dispersal facility in southern Texas to provide critical contingency capacity in the event of a screwworm outbreak in the southern United States. Additionally, the agency is moving forward with plans to design a domestic facility to produce sterile flies, ensuring long-term eradication capacity.

Mexico’s National Agricultural Council (CNA) expressed concern over the renewed closure and stated its willingness to work with authorities from both countries to resolve the issue. “We trust that technical inspections and binational cooperation will support a reopening that benefits producers, industries, and consumers,” the council said.

Juan Carlos Anaya, Director at agricultural consultancy GCMA, criticized the US approach, arguing that the USDA does not distinguish between affected and unaffected regions. “The outbreak is located more than 500 kilometers from the border, yet US policy does not allow for regionalization,” he said. “This directly harms northern Mexico’s cattle producers, who are the primary exporters and are not connected to the infection zones.”

According to GCMA, economic losses from the export closures have exceeded US$400 million so far in 2025. Between January and May, live cattle exports from Mexico fell 64% in volume and 53% in value compared to the same period in 2024.

Anaya warned that the renewed ban will prolong the crisis, contributing to a supply shortage in the US cattle market, where prices remain elevated. He noted this could further inflate consumer costs in the United States and undermine income stability and production decisions for Mexican ranchers.