Renderers welcome increased trade from USMCA

The United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) went into full force this week, marking the start of a new chapter for North American trade and leading to greater reciprocal fair trade among these nations.
calendar icon 4 July 2020
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USMCA will create more open markets and foster economic growth in North America.

USMCA was a catalyst for gaining market access for US bovine meat and bone meal (MBM) into Mexico. NARA thanks the Office of the US Trade Representative for successful discussions with Mexican trade officials during the USMCA negotiations resulting in Mexico’s agreement to move forward to allow imports of bovine MBM in 2019 after years of delay. NARA also appreciates the work of USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in its extensive technical discussions with Mexican officials that were instrumental in gaining this important market access.

NARA worked with local Mexican associations and their government authorities to advocate that access for US bovine MBM into Mexico will help its poultry, swine, and pet food producers remain competitive by reducing feed costs.

Mexico’s agreement to allow imports of US bovine MBM adheres to the science-based directive established by the International Animal Health Organisation (OIE) that such imports are safe from nations such as the US that are negligible risk for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) since they do not pose a health risk. (BSE is a progressive neurological disorder of cattle.) Importantly, the Agreement contains strong sanitary-phytosanitary provisions that require the following of international scientific guidelines, such as those of the OIE and other science-based worldwide official organisations.
Mexico’s demand for bovine MBM is expected to grow as its livestock production continues to expand due largely to vertical integration of farms and better biosecurity. In 2019, Mexican livestock exports achieved a new record and this trend is expected to prevail this year and beyond.

Mexico and Canada are both significant export markets for the American rendering industry. For example, Mexican purchases of US rendered animal proteins and fats reached $290 million (438,000 metric tonnes) last year. Overall, 18 percent of total US rendering production is exported (over 23 percent of animal proteins and 14 percent of animal fats). In addition to Canada and Mexico, other major markets include countries in Asia and Europe.

Roughly 50 percent of an animal is considered inedible by North Americans. Rendering reclaims this meat, bone and fat and transforms it into ingredients for a multitude of new products like nutritious pet food and biofuels. By reclaiming these otherwise discarded meat and poultry leftovers, rendering reduces food waste, saves landfill space, and returns clean water to the environment.

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