Mexican Meat Plants Delisted

November 28, 2001

USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has notified Mexican meat inspection authorities that effective Tuesday (Nov. 27) it temporarily was delisting three Mexican federally inspected plants -- TIF Establishments 105, 111 and 152 -- an action that prevents the plants from shipping products to the United States..

The action came after FSIS auditors reviewing procedures in these three establishments earlier this month observed that antemortem and postmortem inspection was not being conducted 100% of the time by government-paid inspectors. In each case, the establishments were staffed with both Mexican government inspectors and company inspectors on the slaughter lines.

A letter dated Nov. 26 cites the agency's "critical concern" that Mexican inspectors are not conducting 100% of the inspection duties in several establishments when those facilities are slaughtering and producing products for export to the U.S.

The FSIS letter notes "this finding is especially disturbing since it was identified as a critical concern during previous audits" of Mexican plants. FSIS asked their Mexican counterparts to respond within five working days and certify to FSIS that staffing in all Mexican establishments exporting meat products to the U.S. will be conducted by government-paid veterinarians and inspectors. Until FSIS receives that certification, the three Mexican plants will remain delisted and unable to ship products to the United States.