Mexico begins imports of bone-in U.S. beef

Mexico begins imports of bone-in U.S. beef    Mexico has restarted trade in U.S. bone-in beef from cattle under 30 months of age.
   Mexico, like many countries, closed its borders to U.S. beef imports after the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or “mad cow” disease, in a Washington state cow in late December 2003.
   In March 2004, Mexico opened its market to boneless U.S. beef from cattle under 30 months of age. In April 2005, to help normalize the North American beef trade, Mexico, the United States and Canada agreed to harmonize their BSE risk mitigation measures to keep the disease in check in the region.
   According to the USDA, U.S. beef exporters sold more than $874 million in beef products to Mexico in 2003, which bone-in beef products accounted for $40 million.