Jul 6, 2016Mexican judge bans U.S. fresh potatoes
A federal judge in Mexico’s northern state of Sinaola issued a decree that banned fresh potatoes imported from the United States.
According to the Reuters News Agency the judged ruled that Mexico’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fish and Food (SAGARPA) could not guarantee the prevention of the spread of 63 quarantine pests potentially present in U.S. potatoes.
A SAGARPA press release stated that the federal judge’s resolution was not definitive and that government decisions on sanitary food are based on scientific criteria and law.
The judge’s decision does not change the current status of the U.S. ability to ship to the 26 kilometer border zone,” said John Keeling, National Potato Council CEO and executive vice president. “This is a single case among many and it does not determine the final outcome of the U.S. ability to ship to the interior of Mexico.
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