WASHINGTON –  Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins confirmed on May 11 the agency would suspend live cattle, horse, and bison imports from Mexico over concerns of the New World screwworm (NWS).

Rollins made the decision following news that NWS was detected in Oaxaca and Veracruz about 700 miles away from the US border, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“The protection of our animals and safety of our nation’s food supply is a national security issue of the utmost importance,” she said. “Once we see increased surveillance and eradication efforts, and the positive results of those actions, we remain committed to opening the border for livestock trade. This is not about politics or punishment of Mexico, rather it is about food and animal safety.”

The USDA statement said the suspension of Mexican imports would be on a month-by-month basis.

In a post on X, Julio Berdegue, Mexico’s secretary for agriculture and rural development, stated that he did not agree with the measure and that Mexican imports into the US were closed for 15 days.

USDA said it will continue to work with Mexico in their country to eradicate NWS.

“Our teams have been in daily communication discussing how we can build on the good work that has been accomplished to improve our strategy toward eradication,” the agency said.

Any livestock currently in holding to enter the United States would be processed normally which included an Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) port Veterinary Medical Officer inspection exam and treatment to ensure they are not carrying NWS.

The United States and Mexico recently announced an agreement detailing plans to control the spread of NWS.

According to the USDA, APHIS continues to release sterile flies through aerial and ground release at strategic locations that focus on Southern Mexico and Central America.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) supported the USDA’s decision to close the border to cattle shipments from Mexico.

“USDA’s border closure was entirely avoidable,” said Colin Woodall, chief executive officer for NCBA. “US government officials, NCBA and leaders from affiliated state cattle industry associations have been sounding the alarm for months. Unfortunately, the Mexican government created unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles which rendered prevention efforts ineffective and allowed screwworm cases to spread unchecked beyond control points in southern Mexico. The Mexican government’s failure to knock down senseless obstacles has left America with no alternative but a closure of the US border until the outbreak is verifiably stopped and the flies pushed back south of Panama’s Darien Gap.”