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With the start-up of operations at the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development opened two Agricultural Health Inspection Offices (OISA), where 80 officers are assigned to strengthen the National Airport Inspection System and minimize the risk of introducing pests or diseases that could jeopardize food production and supply in Mexico.
The National Inspection System of the National Service for Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality (Senasica) coordinates 86 Agricultural Health Inspection Offices at ports, airports and borders, and 19 Federal Verification and Inspection Points (PVIF), located at strategic sites throughout the country.
The officers are duly identified and uniformed to offer the service of verification, inspection, and phytosanitary and zoosanitary, aquaculture and fishery certification. They are in charge of inspecting goods brought in by travelers arriving from international flights and, if any product is detected that poses a risk to national agri-food production, it is retained and subsequently destroyed by incineration.
They also apply specific sanitary measures, such as placing sanitary mats with disinfectants at the aircraft exit doors or at the entrance to the passenger reception area for flights from countries affected by exotic diseases for Mexico, such as African swine fever, supervising the disembarkation of food waste served to passengers, which are placed in isolated containers to prevent them from becoming a source of contamination for domestic agricultural and livestock production.
From January to December 2021, Senasica inspected 199,369 international flights, 59% more than in the same period of 2020.
March 19, 2022/ Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development/ Mexico. https://www.gob.mx/agricultura
