Export Animal Products to Mexico
Alert
Important information regarding trade bans and other restrictions - May 2022
Products Exempt from Export Certification
Certain food products containing minor amounts of animal products may not need export certification if guidance documents pertaining to product tariff codes do not call for export certification. Exporters are encouraged to inquire of their importer as to the availability of a letter issued by SAGARPA SENASICA showing the product is exempt from the requirement of an export certificate.
General Information
Mexico's Border Inspection Service (DGIF) is not permitted to accept export certificates that contain any of the following: abbreviations, handwritten text, or any alterations such as cross outs, white outs, erasures, or initialed changes.
Mexico continues making progress implementing a new digital platform, VUCEM (Single Window for Trade), for handling imports and exports with an eye towards simplifying the flow of trade information among exporters, importers, and Mexican government agencies. At the major ports of entry, SENASICA has incorporated its inspection tasks in the program’s framework, including various documents pertaining to animal and plant health, food safety and that are necessary for border inspection activities. The program is not expected to directly impact U.S. exporters. We recommend, however, that U.S. exporters promptly respond to requests from their Mexican clients to send required documentation electronically (such as invoices, export certificates, letterheads, and bilingual or Spanish language shipping container labels) prior to the arrival of the shipment at the Mexican border. This should enable importers and their customs brokers to begin electronic clearance of these documents prior to the physical inspection of the shipment.
Traceability requirements
The Area office issuing the health certificate for animal products being exported to Mexico must be provided sufficient information so that they may verify that the requirements of Mexico are met. Typically the exporter should be able to get a copy of the appropriate "HRZ" (import requirements sheet) from their importer. HRZ’s serve as guidance and should not be considered import permits. The HRZ may indicate that the shipment and documentation must comply with Article 89 of Mexico's Federal Animal Health Law. The provisions of Article 89 are currently under development. Certificates issued by APHIS VS Area offices should provide basic information on the health certificate, including lot numbers, species of origin, and general description of the product. The exporter is advised to determine from the government of Mexico (SENASICA's webpage or from a SENASICA office) if there are requirements in addition to the veterinary certification issues addressed by APHIS.
Mexico’s SENASICA requires certain traceability and production information for animal products presented for importation into Mexico (Article 89 and other provisions of the Federal Animal Health Law). Generally, the lot number should be listed on the official animal health certificate in the Product Identification block. Separately, a supplemental declaration from the manufacturing company can be used to provide the additional pertinent information required for the animal product being certified. Typical examples of required information are production date, packing or shipment date, and an expiry date. The manufacturer’s or exporter’s supplemental declaration must be cross referenced to the certificate, and must show the lot numbers as well as the name of the official, their position within the company (acceptable examples: owner, president, quality control manager) and signature. The original and a copy of the supplemental declaration are required at the time of presentation of the product. The above procedure does not apply for dairy products intended for human consumption and any addendum must be issued by USDA APHIS Veterinary Services.
Poultry products
For the export of table eggs to Mexico, layer flocks must be qualified with respect to avian influenza through participation in either the National Poultry Improvement Plan, or in a testing program supervised by the VS Area office. Export certification is done by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, Office of Poultry Grading and Certification.
Certificates for poultry products that require certification pertaining to Newcastle disease should refer to “velogenic Newcastle disease” and not exotic Newcastle disease.
Commodity Specific Information
Animal feeds and food: Additives, Complements and Supplements for Animal Feeding (191.83 KB) - November 2023
Animal feeds and food: Animal fats for animal feeding or industrial uses (15.47 KB) - November 2014
Animal feeds and food: Aquatic origin meals and feed for aquatic animal feeding - May 2014
Animal feeds and food: Artemia and polychate biomass as feed for crustaceans (14.27 KB) - November 2014
Animal feeds and food: Balanced animal feeds (not including dogs and cats) - February 2015
Animal feeds and food: Balanced feeds containing porcine and poultry ingredients and intended for aquatic species (155.06 KB) - June 2020
Animal feeds and food: Balanced pet foods for dogs and cats (184.24 KB) - November 2023
Animal feeds and food: Bovine and/or porcine blood products for animal feeding (15.76 KB) - November 2015
Animal feeds and food: Bovine offal for pet treats (167.72 KB) - February 2023
Animal feeds and food: Dairy products for animal feeding (144.93 KB) - May 2023
Animal feeds and food: Feed Additives with Aquatic Animal Ingredients for Animal Feeding (165.06 KB) - May 2021
Animal feeds and food: Pet Treats and Similar Products Not Containing Animal Product Ingredients (138.55 KB) - September 2012
Animal feeds and food: Porcine Hydrolyzed Collagen/Hydrolyzed Protein for animal feeding (153.79 KB) - July 2021
Animal feeds and food: Processed pet treats (dogs, cats and ferrets) containing animal origin ingredients (304.41 KB) - March 2023
Animal feeds and food: Raw Material for Manufacturing Food for Feeding Aquatic Animals - October 2023
Animal feeds and food: Raw Poultry Ingredients for Manufacture of Pet Food (199.11 KB) - February 2023
Animal feeds and food: Rendering/Blending Facility General Information for Exporters (42.82 KB) - June 2016
Animal feeds and food: Rendered Meals: Bovine Meals (155.81 KB) - August 2021
Animal feeds and food: Rendered Meals: Porcine and/or poultry meals (83.32 KB) - October 2016
Animal feeds and food: Rendered Meals: Porcine and/or poultry meals also containing meals of aquatic animal origin (53.71 KB) - December 2016
Animal origin hormones for animal use or manufacturing (49.1 KB) - March 2012
Animal Products Offered for Re-Export (30.01 KB) - October 2014
Balance Feeds for Rodents (Research) Containing Animal Products for Export to Mexico (145.52 KB) - April 2024
Beef extract powders and pastes for research (13.13 KB) - May 2014 (pdf 14kb)
Bile and Bile Salts (Bovine, Ovine and Porcine) for Manufacturing Uses or Research (16.46 KB) - November 2014
Blood and Blood Products for Diagnostics and Research, including Fetal Bovine Serum (160.32 KB) - September 2019
Bovine Bone Chips for Manufacturing (14.13 KB) - June 2013
Bovine Calf Abomasum for Rennet/Renin Production (344.57 KB) - February 2018
Buffalo Dairy Products for Export to Mexico (86.57 KB) - July 2018
Cervid tails for manufacturing (12.83 KB) - September 2014
Complements, supplements, additives and flavorings (bees, poultry, bovine, porcine, ovine and caprine) for human consumption (217.77 KB) - February 2023
Complements, supplements, additives and flavorings (minor dairy) for human consumption (12.46 KB) - August 2013
Dry Crunchy Snacks (9.48 KB) - December 2014
Feathers (39.4 KB) - November 2011
Fertilizers containing poultry, bovine and/or ovine ingredients (54.66 KB) - January 2018
Fisheries Products (Meats, Oils, and Pastes) for Animal Feeding - October 2013
Food preparations containing animal products for human consumption - September 2018
Gelatin and collagen: Hydrolyzed bovine proteins for human consumption (16.21 KB) - March 2013
Hides and skins: Cervid Hides and Skins for manufacturing (66.28 KB) - November 2012
Hides and skins: Limed bovine hides and skins for manufacturing or animal feeding (65.36 KB) - May 2012
Hides and skins: Salted Bison/Bovine Hides and Skins for Manufacturing Purposes (58.06 KB)- June 2011
Hides and skins: Salted or Limed Bovine Hides and Skins for Food Industry (16.36 KB) - July 2014
Hides and skins: Salted Ostrich Hides and Skins for Manufacturing Purposes (67.74 KB) - March 2012
Hides and skins: Salted Porcine Hides and Skins for Manufacturing Purposes (57.64 KB) - July 2011
Hides and skins: Salted Rawhide for Manufacturing Purposes - December 2011
Hides and skins: Salted Sheep and Goat Pelts and Skins (65.96 KB) - February 2012
Hides and Skins: Tanned or Semi-tanned Skins and Hides derived from any species (132.32 KB) - December 2018
Hydrolyzed porcine proteins for manufacturing use (12.56 KB) - January 2014
Milk and dairy: Bovine-Origin Dairy for Manufacturing (159.27 KB) (including samples for testing) - November 2019
Milk and dairy: Milk and/or Dairy Products (159.53 KB) (bovine, caprine, ovine origin) for human consumption - November 2019
Mink Carcasses for Educational Purposes - May 2019
Pig bristles - November 2011
Porcine and bovine tissues for biomedical use - April 2017
Porcine offal and casings (inedible) for manufacturing (12.41 KB) - March 2014
Porcine offal (meat, offal, viscera, and pastes) for pet food manufacturing - August 2012
Porcine pancreatin - February 2013
Processed bovine bone for biomedical uses - July 2014
Processed Egg Products for Animal Feeding - September 2012
Processed porcine bone for biomedical use (114.52 KB) - August 28, 2019
Reptile hides and skins - January 2014
Trophy materials (unfinished) - July 2012
Need Help Exporting Animal Products?
If you have any questions or concerns about the procedures and requirements for exporting animal products, or to obtain a zoosanitary certificate for an animal product, contact the APHIS Veterinary Services office covering the area from which the product will be exported, the area in which your office is located, or the area in which the product is manufactured.
Certificate Endorsement or Export Questions
For animal product export certificate endorsement or questions, select your State or Territory to email the appropriate office and include "Animal products: endorsement or question" plus your State or Territory's name in the subject line. Note: Offices may serve multiple States and Territories.
Facility Inspections or Questions
For animal product export facility inspection requests or questions, select your State or Territory to email the appropriate office and include "Facility Inspection" plus your State or Territory's name in the subject line. Note: Offices may serve multiple States and Territories.