NEWS

FELIPE CALDERON PRESIDENT OF MEXICO AND ALBERTO CARDENAS SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE GUARANTEE THE SEAFTY OF PORK MEAT

Swine Industry

Pork meat, healthy and safe

• Human influenza A/H1N1, unrelated to swine

• Strong and wide measures have been undertaken to rescue the pork meat industry

Given the confusion and misunderstanding generated by the outbreak of the Human Influenza virus A/H1N1, the production and consumption of pork meat has been severely affected; consequently, authorities, organizations and pork producers have joined forces to reactivate the pork industry.

Animal Health Activities

Very thorough and deep inspections were made to detect the presence of diseases in pigs in the 8 regions of Mexico, which cover the entire country. A total of 426 technicians distributed in 25 labs verified 2,189 pork producers.

The result was 3,417,227 pigs checked, and no one of them was found contaminated with the A/H1N1 influenza virus.

Promotion Activities

As of May 1, the Pork Meat Promotion Committee launched a massive campaign to stress the innocuousness and safety of pork meat and to promote its consumption. The initiative was aired on TV and the radio, newspaper ads, 200,000 posters, 3.2 million flyers and boosted for consumption in Japan and South Korea.

Actions taken by Producers, Pork Meat Processors and the Meat Industry*

• Promote consumption of national production of pork meat
• Consumer guidance actions
• Adjust production to the temporary demand from market
• Measures for cold storage of carcasses
• Donate 10,000 pigs for tasting events

* Mexican Meat Council, National Association of Pork Meat Producers - Mexico, Mexican Chamber for Pork Meat Processors-CANACINTRA and the National Agricultural Council - CNA.

Actions for International Communication

• 250 press releases have been sent to ministers of agriculture, ambassadors, consulates and heads of international organizations.
• Press releases to Agriculture Ministers in Mexico, USA and Canada on the innocuousness of pork meat