The USA resumes livestock imports from Mexico following border closures due to the screwworm.

The decision to resume imports was made after a year-long break, associated with the need to prevent the spread of the New World screwworm (NWS) from Mexico. According to Rollins, the measures to close the southern ports were forced but effective for controlling the situation. At present, 42 cases of infestation have been recorded in the US, with almost all of them occurring in the territory of Texas.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to cooperate with the Mexican states of Sonora and Chihuahua. These regions were chosen as partners because they possess developed veterinary control infrastructure and are assessed as territories with the lowest risk of pest spread.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller supported the resumption of shipments, noting that the restrictions had a negative impact on supply chains, the well-being of producers, and created instability in the industry. At the same time, Miller expressed concern that the decision to lift the ban could have been made earlier, and he described the current USDA response measures as insufficient to protect the multi-billion dollar industry.

Recall that a total ban on the import of Mexican livestock through all southern ports was introduced in May 2025, which made the legal import of livestock into the country impossible over the last year.