Of the more than 10 million tons of meat products consumed in Mexico, around 6.2 million tons are produced under the Federal Inspection Type (TIF) system, which provides health and safety guarantees to the population, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Based on these figures from the animal protein industry, the federal agency called on meat producers to reinforce their information campaigns to raise consumer awareness of the convenience of consuming certified foods.
In a meeting with representatives of the National Association of TIF Establishments (ANETIF, by its Spanish acronym), the head of Agriculture, Víctor Villalobos Arámbula, acknowledged that there is still a long way to go to increase the consumption of foods bearing the TIF seal and a good strategy is to communicate the effort and work of producers and government to offer safe products that are not necessarily more expensive.
During the presentation of the 2023-2025 Work Plan of the organizations that make up ANETIF, the Secretary of Agriculture pointed out that the National Service of Health, Safety and Agri-Food Quality (Senasica) works closely with producers and the production chain of the livestock sector to fulfill the task of producing animal protein with the highest standards of health, safety and quality.
Through Senasica, he said, the federal government assumes the responsibility of promoting the application of good practices in the production process of vegetables and meat, to ensure food safety and health, which is a priority, because we are talking about issues of great relevance such as human health, traceability, animal welfare and food safety.
He reiterated that the Agriculture agency is a public good at the service of producers and industry, and is strategic to guarantee the production of healthy and safe food for the national supply and to boost the competitiveness of national producers.
He pointed out that Mexican meat products are increasingly better positioned in the international market, and proof of this is that, according to industry data, during 2023, 498,438 tons were exported to more than 65 countries, including the United States, Japan, China, South Korea, Canada, Cuba, Guatemala, Hong Kong and Gabon.
He informed that, as part of the export diversification plan, Agriculture promotes meat products at important agri-food fairs such as the Foodex Expo, which is held every year in Tokyo, Japan.
Villalobos Arámbula indicated that the possibility of exporting Mexican meat products to Arab countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait, which require Halal certification, is being explored, in addition to the growing demand for poultry products in that region.
He acknowledged the academic training plan developed by the ANETIF Foundation for the specialization of veterinarians in various topics such as the management of large breeds of animals, as well as the work in slaughterhouses, paddocks and other disciplines.
He proposed the creation of greater links with academic and research organizations, both national and international, in order to have the participation of experts in training schemes and diploma courses, to motivate young university graduates to participate in this productive and profitable activity.
The chief director of Senasica, Javier Calderón Elizalde, offered ANETIF the collaboration of a large number of specialists from the agency to develop its Work Plan and promote the competitiveness of the meat industry, business models, the standardization of criteria for certification, aligned with the health agenda, as well as to strengthen traceability and safety programs.
The president of ANETIF, Adolfo Fernández Flores, highlighted the joint work they have developed with the Ministry of Agriculture and Senasica, and among the points of their Work Plan he highlighted the positioning of the TIF seal and the promotion of exports to Asian markets, such as China, Vietnam, the Philippines and Japan.
He specified that the national meat sector represents 3.9 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and is in constant growth. Last year alone, it registered an increase of 4.9 percent, mainly turkey, beef, sheep and pork.
He recognized that it is necessary to have specialized personnel in three links of the TIF industry: slaughterhouses; cutting and boning; and packaging, as well as in the sausage industry, for which reason a specialization scheme is being promoted with universities, organizations and public institutions to promote the training of professionals in these areas.
The meeting was attended by the general coordinator of Livestock, Arturo Macosay Córdova, and the general directors of Animal Health, Juan Gay Gutiérrez, and of Agrifood, Aquaculture and Fisheries Safety, David Soriano García; the president of the ANETIF Foundation, Mario Gorena Mireles, and the president of the TIF Establishment Certification Body (OCETIF), José Inés Cantú Chapa.