USMEF Raises Concerns About Mexico's Beef Grading Plan

USMEF Raises Concerns About Mexico's Beef Grading Plan

Russell Nemetz
Russell Nemetz
Hi everybody it's time for your Land and Livestock Report here on the Ag Information Network of the West-I'm Russell Nemetz.

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) has submitted comments to the Mexican government expressing its concerns about that country's proposed beef grading standards.

Mexico's proposed system closely resembles that of the USDA and borrows the grade names "Prime," "Choice," "Select" and "Standard," and its government, according to USMEF, is indicating that these names should be used interchangeably.

In its comments, USMEF contends that doing so would create confusion in the marketplace and diminish the value that the U.S. beef industry derives from the USDA grading system.

The group notes that while Mexico's proposed system is similar to the U.S. version, there are significant differences — including differences in marbling scores and in the procedures used to determine carcass grades — that make interchangeable use of English and Spanish grade names problematic.

That's your Land and Livestock Report-I'm Russell Nemetz.

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