Market Information
Latin America and Caribbean

Treatment applied by Mexico to Canadian Exports of Duck Products

Under NAFTA, the Canadian exports of frozen whole duck (HS Code: 0207.33.01), duck livers, fresh or chilled (HS Code: 0207.34.01), frozen duck cuts and offals, except livers (HS Code: 0207.36.99) and duck foie gras (HS Code: 1602.20.99) have duty free access in the Mexican market since January 1, 2003.

The exports to Mexico of Canadian frozen duck livers (HS Code: 0207.36.01) were excluded from NAFTA and have to pay an import duty of 10%.

Likewise, the exports to Mexico of Canadian whole ducks, fresh or chilled (HS Code: 0207.32.01) and duck cuts and offals, fresh or chilled (HS Code: 0207.35.99) were also excluded from NAFTA. Therefore, if the Canadian exporters want to export these products to Mexico, they can do it through the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) that Mexico has granted to all the World Trade Organization (WTO) members (including Canada).

This TRQ allows the importation of a maximum quantity of 200 metric tonnes of whole ducks and duck cuts, fresh or chilled with an import duty of 10% ad-valorem. The out of the quota duty is 240%. It is important to note that only individuals or companies established in Mexico are able to import through this TRQ. So, the Canadian companies should be careful to sell their product to someone that has a permit "TRQ certificate" to import the duck under the TRQ.

Following are the main health requirements requested by the Mexican authorities to allow the importation of duck products from Canada as of March 19, 2003. However, it is highly recommended that the importer consult the latest health requirements before a Canadian exporter send the products to Mexico.

1. To present an official certificate from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that indicates the following:

• That the product originates from Canada
• That the product comes from healthy animals inspected before and after slaughter in establishments under official control (NOM-005-ZOO-1993)
• That Canada is free of Newcastle disease in velogenic presentation (NOM-013-ZOO-1994)
• That the product comes from farms that carried out 59 random serological tests for avian influenza 2 or 3 weeks prior to the slaughter of the birds, using the hemoglutination Inhibition (HI) test and the AGID test with negative results to avian influenza (NOM-EM-016-ZOO-2002).
• That the meat can be freely mobilized and sold in the country of origin
• That the product has been packaged in new cardboard boxes
• That the vehicles and containers used for the shipment were cleaned and disinfected when shipped.
• That the vehicles and containers used for the shipment were sealed at the plant of origin and kept sealed until the vehicles arrived to Mexico.
• That the product is approved by an official institution for human consumption
• That the meat comes from a facility authorized by the Animal Health Department of the Mexican Secretariat of Agriculture (SAGARPA) to export to Mexico.

2. Each shipment will be subject to inspection by an authorized inspector according to the Mexican Official Standard: NOM-030-ZOO-1995. Procedures and specifications for the verification of imported meat, carcasses and offals in the sanitary verification points.

3. In relation to Avian Influenza, it is required that the importer requests to DINASA (tel. (01) 800-90388 and 5751-2100) or to DGSA (Tel. 5534-1575 or 5524-0653) an official document for the mobilization of the product in the interior of the Mexican territory when:

• It is moved from a zone in process of eradication with vaccinations to a final destination that is free, in eradication or in process of eradication
• It is moved from a zone in process of eradication to a final destination that is free or in process of eradication but it crosses zones in process of eradication with vaccination
• It is moved from a free zone or in eradication to a final destination that is free or in process of eradication but it crosses by terrestrial roads, zones that are in process of eradication with vaccination

* This will also apply when the shipments are transported by air and a transfer is done from one airplane to another.

For entrance to Mexico, the vehicle or container that transports the goods must be sealed when crossing zones in control or in process of eradication with vaccinations and the final destination is a free zone or in process of eradication. The interior and exterior of the vehicle must be cleaned before the entry to these zones. A SAGARPA inspector or a certified veterinarian must remove the seals in the final destination.

The authorized border customs to import these products are:

Cd. Juárez, Chih., Manzanillo Col., Matamoros Tamps., Mexicalli, B.C., Nogales, Son., Nuevo Laredo, Tamps., Cd. Reynosa, Tamps., Cd. Hidalgo, Chiapas, Tampico, Tamps., Tijuana, B.C., Veracruz, Ver., Aeropuerto Internacional de la Cd. de México., Cancún, Q.Roo., Colombia, N.L., Altamira, Tamps.

For assistance with border crossing problems for agri-food products and document pre-clearance verification with Mexican inspectors contact the Border Clearance Representative (BCR) at:

BORDER CLEARANCE REPRESENTATIVE

Luis A. Pérez
Tel: (011-52) (867) 719-00-03
Mobile: 1 (956) 206-8771
Fax: (011-52) (867) 719-07-64
E-mail: luispere@nlaredo.globalpc.net

The BCR will provide pre-clearance and border assistance to Canadian companies who are shipping agri-food products to Mexico. This resource is available to ensure any difficulties that do occur are resolved quickly so that Canadian goods move more smoothly across the border.