Mexico’s Minister of Agriculture blames United States for spread of New World Screwworm amid trade disruptions

Posted: Thursday, May 15, 2025. 1:28 pm CST.

Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture Dr. Jorge Berdegué Sacristán, left, with Belize’s Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai, in Palenque, Mexico, on December 8, 2024 – Photo Credit: Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: In the wake of the U.S. suspension of cattle imports from Mexico, Mexican Secretary of Agriculture Dr. Jorge Berdegué Sacristán has accused the United States of failing to contain the spread of the New World screwworm (NWS) before it reached Mexico, countering claims from the U.S. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) that corruption in Mexico fueled the parasite’s northward movement.

On May 11, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced an immediate halt on live cattle, horse, and bison imports through the southern U.S. border, citing the growing threat of NWS—a destructive parasite that burrows into the flesh of livestock. The decision, backed by the NCBA, aims to prevent the pest from crossing into the United States, where it was eradicated in 1966 through the sterile insect technique.

However, Berdegué Sacristán insisted that the U.S. bears responsibility for the spread, noting that the only facility capable of producing sterile flies for controlling NWS is operated by United States.

Currently, the only active sterile fly production facility for controlling the New World screwworm (NWS) is located in Pacora, Panama, operated through a partnership between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Panama’s Ministry of Agricultural Development.

“The NWS got away from them. It traveled more than 3,700 kilometers until it reached Mexico,” Berdegué Sacristán stated, explaining that the parasite was first detected in Mexico on November 24, 2024. He asserted that early containment measures had already been in place under the previous López Obrador administration, but the Sheinbaum government ramped up efforts upon taking office in October 2024.

Cattle for export to Mexico – Photo Credit: Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise

Mexico’s emergency response, Berdegué Sacristán noted, included strict cattle inspections and the dispersal of sterile flies, which began in November 2024. He confirmed that 100 million sterile flies per week are now being released in areas coordinated with the United States Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

Despite the ongoing containment measures, tensions have escalated between Mexico and the U.S. over the trade suspension. NCBA officials claimed the parasite had spread 700 miles south of the U.S. border and pointed to corruption within Mexico as a factor.

Berdegué Sacristán pushed back against those assertions, arguing that Mexico immediately complied with 100 percent of enhanced biosecurity measures requested by the U.S. after a meeting with Rollins on May 6. He emphasized that Mexico acted in its own best interest—not just for its exports, but to safeguard animal health nationwide.

Following the initial measures, the United States closed the border on May 11, but talks resumed on May 13, when Berdegué Sacristán met with Rollins to negotiate additional agreements.

While Mexico has clamped down on cattle movement northward, it has maintained open trade with Central America, preserving a key route for Belize’s cattle industry, which was valued at $90 million in 2023. In 2024, Belize exported approximately $9 million BZD worth of cattle to Mexico, a trade that would have been endangered had Mexico opted for a full border closure.

Meanwhile, confusion persists over how long the suspension of Mexican cattle imports into the U.S. will last. Mexican authorities insist they agreed to a 15-day halt, while U.S. officials have suggested the ban will be enforced on a month-by-month basis, adding uncertainty to an already strained beef supply chain.

 

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The post Mexico’s Minister of Agriculture blames United States for spread of New World Screwworm amid trade disruptions appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.

Posted: Thursday, May 15, 2025. 1:28 pm CST. Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture Dr. Jorge Berdegué Sacristán, left, with Belize’s Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai, in
The post Mexico’s Minister of Agriculture blames United States for spread of New World Screwworm amid trade disruptions appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.