When there is a rejection of the merchandise, the OISA staff will do the following:

 

1. Take the photographic evidence that motivated the rejection to be sent to central offices in the corresponding report.
    

2. The merchandise must remain in the custody of SENASICA, so it may remain in a specific area of ​​the PVIZI or in a strapped box. Said strap must be established in the observations of the opinion issued.
    

3. Notify the user that he must proceed in accordance with Art. 72 of the LFSA Regulations; otherwise, the OISA may act in the terms indicated in Art. 73 and 74 of the RLFSA itself. (see the section on regulations).

 

 

b) Inconsistencies and Physical Anomalies of Goods

 

Criteria for Classification of Inconsistencies or Defects of Chicks Three Days old
 

• That birds are sad.

• That birds are down.

• That there is mortality.

• That there is presence of diarrheic secretions.

• That the head is hit or with deformities.

• That the nares are hit or with deformities.

• That the tongue is in a bad state.

• That the eyes are in bad condition.

• That there are alterations in birds.

• That there are disease signs.

• That there is evidence of diarrhea and/or blood.
  
  c) Quarantine Measures
   

Reasons to apply a quarantine measure.
 

When SENASICA rejects the goods (deeming that the request to get the importation certificate does not meet the requirements), it shall issue a letter indicating the corresponding quarantine measures. These may be:

 

i. Return
​

Action aimed at a load or goods to be returned to the Country of Origin or country of departure, or to a third Country accepting it, when animal health measures are not met.
 

ii. Conditioning
 

Sanitary measure ordered by SENASICA in Article 45 Fraction II of the Federal Animal Health Act (LFSA) (Refer to the Standards Section) to apply a treatment for a merchandise regulated therein –to make then adequate or prepare them through the introduction of one or several sanitary measures in order to prevent the introduction and dissemination of pests and disease.
 

iii. Destruction

​

Sanitary measures ordered by SENASICA, by which goods intended to be imported into Mexico are disabled due to the fact that they do not meet the applicable regulations and/or pose a sanitary risk for the Country. Expenses incurred in derived from this action shall be paid by the user.
 

The rejection or negative resolution regarding the shipment formality shall be issued in the following instances:
 

i. Presence of quarantine-relevant.

ii. Characteristics such as: bad state, color, smell and texture different from the product intended for importation.

iii. Whenever the product does not match with what is declared on the international sanitary certificate.

iv. If there are labeling errors and/or data inconsistencies between the label and the documents, the entire shipment will be deconsolidated to detect all labeling inconsistencies.

v. If the General Animal Health Office (DGSA) issues specific risk mitigation measures, OISA’s staff will verify such measures are applied.

 

d) Procedure to Return Rejected Goods to the US
 

The corresponding OISA shall issue a rejection opinion through the VDMCE specifying the reasons for rejection of goods. The customs broker and/or importer shall write a letter –preferably on lettered paper and with the original signature. It shall be sent to the Customs personnel in question informing about the goods rejection, and attaching background support and documents for the corresponding shipment for the Customs personnel to be informed, and to schedule, together with the customs broker, the day and time for the return of the goods. Once the vehicle has the goods, it shall leave the bonded warehouse/ verification point where it is, and go back to the US. Thus, the Customs and OISA’s personnel shall verify that the transportation with the goods returns to the country of origin through the correct fiscal route.
 

Together with the above, the exporter of goods to the US and/or its Customs Broker shall notify CBP at the border through which the goods will return, with a signed free-text letter answering to the following questions:
 

i. What is the product condition and its immediate packaging?

ii. How long has the product been out of the Country?

iii. Where has the product been since it was exported out of the US?

iv. Under what conditions has the product been maintained?

v. What has been the chain of ownership of the product?

vi. Has the product been abandoned any time?

vii. Is product labeling in accordance with the US regulations?

viii. Product was rejected by a foreign Government, if so, what are the reasons for rejection? A copy of the (rejection) report may be required from the foreign inspection (SENASICA).
ix. Is the product in its original packaging?

x. Was the product marketed in the foreign country?

 

xi.  Are there any food safety issues associated with the return of this product?

xii.         What do you plan to do with the product once you return it?

​

The authorities will review the information and evaluate if goods can reenter the US.
 

If reentry is allowed, the exporter shall contact a Customs Broker to conduct the necessary formalities before the authorities.
 

This link provides details from APHIS on the basic steps to take to return inspected products: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-and-animal-product-import-information/returned-goods
 

e) Avian Influenza

​

Avian Influenza, caused by Avian Influenza Type “A” Virus, may affect several poultry species (chickens, turkeys, quails, guinea hens, etc.), as well as companion birds and wild birds. Some strains may cause high mortality rates. The virus has been isolated in some mammal species, including humans, rats, mice, weasels, ferrets, pigs, cats, tigers and dogs.
 

There are several virus strains of Avian Influenza that are classified in two categories: Low-Pathogenic Avian Influenza which usually creates few clinical signs or none in birds; and Highly-Pathogenic Avian Influenza which produces serious clinical signs and/or high mortality in birds.
 

Strict measures taken both in the US and Mexico for surveillance and control of Avian Influenza are aimed at preventing foods with any possible health risk from reaching consumers. Therefore, affected or suspicious farm birds are euthanized; and rigorous control and follow-up measures are adopted in their environment, making sure that animals and their products do not contribute to spreading the disease.
 

f) Traceability
​

In accordance to the definitions of traceability by the Codex Alimentarius, traceability is:
 

“Series of systematic technical and administrative activities that allow to keep track of processes related to birth, rearing, feeding, reproduction, harvesting and processing of an animal, animal products, and chemical, pharmaceutical, biological and food products for animal use or animal consumption until their final consumption –identifying in every step, its spatial location and, as applicable, animal health and contamination risks that may be present in each one of the activities.”
 

Therefore, traceability is the possibility to find and trace back, throughout all production, transformation and distribution steps of a food or substance aimed at being incorporated in food. Traceability gives credibility and efficacy to the control system for animal safety throughout the food chain.
 

A good traceability system, plays an important role in protection of consumers’ interest, and gives great benefits for companies, such as:
 

• It allows to demonstrate the cause of a problem.

• It facilitates the actions taken, aimed at preventing the recurrence of a problem.

• It fosters commercial food safety of products and generates trust in consumers.

• It increases safety and economic benefits for different stakeholders of the supply chain of goods.

• It is a tool to get a high-level of protection of life and health of individuals.

• It contributes with quality assurance and product certification.
   

The office of the area that issues the zoosanitary certificate for animal products that are exported to Mexico must know enough and necessary information so that it can be verified that the requirements requested by Mexico for importation are met.

 

Certificates issued by APHIS Area Offices (Veterinary Services) must provide information about the health certificate, including lot numbers, species, origin, and general description of the commodity.
 

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.
 

If you want to know more about the traceability of merchandise of avian origin you can click on the following link: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/export/iregs-for-animal-product-exports/sa_international_regulations/sa_by_country/sa_m/ct_product_mexico

 

The following aspects can be taken into account to have an effective traceability system in birds up to three days:

 

• Pavilion.

• Sector.

• Records (machines, processes, cleaning, veterinary, temperature, food, drugs, logistics, etc.).

• State / County.

• Type of transportation.

• Lot.

• Weight.

• Size.

• Country of origin.

• Country of origin.

• Destination country.

• The NPIP number of the farm or hatchery.

• Health certificate.

• Labeling.

• And any seal or brand that the authority has expressed in the packaging of the merchandise.

 

The monitoring of the movement of a product is linked to commercial information and internal processes and self-controls.

 

g) Indication and Warnings on Goods
 

Chicks up to three days old shipped for importation into Mexico shall comply with the following:
 

• Boxes or packages shall be arranged and sealed so that during transportation they do not move, flip over, break or get crushed.

• Maintain adequate temperature and ventilation for birds.

• Be sure to send the necessary documentation with the shipment.

• Stack the boxes according to the height specified for transport.

• Keep birds in a dry, clean and ventilated area away from extreme heat or cold.

• All packaging and beds if applicable must be new.

• Make sure that what is physically sent matches the documentation submitted.

• Palletize and arrange goods appropriately for safety, as well as to have an easy and agile deconsolidation and physical inspection by the authority.

• Label information fully visible and legible.

• Labels shall be made of a resistant and durable material with sufficient glue to withstand movement and handling of boxes, as well as to withstand the temperature and humidity in the container.

• To thoroughly check the box or container in order to verify it was completely cleaned and sanitized before the shipping of goods, as well as identify and note any possible damages.

• Make sure the temperature is appropriate depending on the state of the goods (dried, fresh or frozen). 

• A digital signature will be used as a substitute for the handwritten signature of the official veterinarian in the endorsement of certificates for fertile eggs and chickens up to three days old. Digital signatures of the accredited veterinarian and the USDA veterinarian will be used.The format will be issued through the Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS) with a digital signature.

• All certificates and labels must be typed, handwritten documents will not be accepted.

• To verify that the lock or stamp declared on the origin sanitary certificate physically matches the one placed on the transportation; do not break or open until reviewed by the Mexican Customs. 

• On the labels, declare dates using the following format: day/month/year.

• Before shipping of the goods, it is important to send to the Customs Broker all required documentation, as well as the photographic support of the load, labels and origin sanitary certificate to make sure all is correct.

• To avoid marking and/or crossing out information with a marker on the boxes, since it may be considered as altered information.

• When an origin sanitary certificate replacement is requested, all duplicates shall be turned in.

• To avoid affix or adhere stamps and information different from that pertaining to the goods.

• Mexican Customs requires that invoices and certificates of Country of Origin show full addresses, including the city/state and the postal code.

• When a replacement of the zoosanitary certificate of origin for export is requested, all duplicates must be delivered.

• Avoid stamping or attaching different stamps and different information.

• Mexican customs requires that all country of origin invoices and certificates show full addresses, including city / state and zip code information.

• It is recommended to have a temperature monitor or to record temperature to prove before authorities in case of discrepancies.

• Health certificates shall be registered or processed using a text processor or in a computer. The health certificate number shall also come from a text processor or computer. Hand-written documents shall be rejected. Mexico shall not accept hand-written corrections, erasures, text out of line, corrections or crossing-outs. 

• All health certificates for live animals exported to Mexico SHALL NOT have abbreviations –except for: abbreviations by the issuer, the consignee and the accredited veterinarian, and endorser (of VMO field). 

• Health certificates submitted through VEHCS to APHIS will have 10 numeric digits.

• That the birds were transported in containers or strapped vehicles from the farm or incubator to the point of entry to Mexico.