USDA Streamlines Meat and Poultry Rail Exports to Mexico

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) acknowledged its support for a new arrangement to expedite the rail export of U.S. meat and poultry products to Mexican markets on Sept. 18.

Through the partnership, inspection personnel from Mexico’s National Service of Agri-Food, Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA) will inspect at participating federally inspected establishments to reinspect and clear for export eligible U.S. meat and poultry shipments at the point of origin. This process will eliminate the need for routine border inspections by Mexican officials and allow for faster, more efficient delivery of American meat and poultry products, said USDA.

Mexico remains the largest export destination for U.S. meat and poultry, with trade exceeding $5.5 billion in 2024, said the agency.

This arrangement, described by USDA as the first of its kind in the U.S. meat and poultry sector, does not impose any new regulatory requirements on U.S. exporters and is voluntary for FSIS-inspected facilities. 

This past week, FSIS leadership participated in three key stakeholder events.

At the quarterly Partnership for Food Safety Education meeting on Sept. 12, FSIS Administrator Dr. Justin Ransom joined representatives from government, industry, nonprofits and academia to share updates and reinforce commitment to consumer education.

Ransom highlighted the agency’s focus on training and career growth, building smarter systems and using contemporary approaches to consumer outreach. He also emphasized the need to think differently about how we engage and reach consumers and maintain public trust. These quarterly meetings provide a forum for aligning priorities, exchanging ideas and sustaining national coordination on food safety education.

FSIS Deputy Administrator Dr. Denise Eblen spoke at the North American Food Safety and Quality Series on Sept. 15, where she joined more than 200 industry leaders to discuss advancing food safety. Eblen’s remarks highlighted the agency’s data-driven approach to decision making and outlined FSIS’ plan to bolster food safety through expanded microbiological testing, stronger state partnerships and empowering inspectors to ensure accountability across the food system.

“Science and data give us the tools, but it’s how we apply them that matters most. By strengthening inspection and oversight, we’re advancing food safety nationwide,” said Eblen.

On Sept. 17, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety Trey Forsyth delivered keynote remarks to the technical and regulatory committee of the National Turkey Federation Leadership Conference. In his address, Forsyth outlined FSIS’ food safety approach and emphasized that government and industry share the same bottom line: ensuring safe, trusted products for consumers.

Source: USDA