How to Import Beef From Mexico: The TIF→USDA Process (2026)
To import beef from Mexico into the US, source from a TIF-certified plant listed on the USDA-FSIS Mexico Export-Eligible Establishments register. NortMeat ships its own-brand beef from TIF Plant #651 (USDA-equivalent, MAFF-Japan approved) through its US entity, Nortmeat Distribution LLC, with each lot FSIS-reinspected at the port of entry.
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What is a TIF/USDA-approved beef supplier?
A TIF/USDA-approved beef supplier is a Mexican plant that operates under TIF (Tipo Inspección Federal) — Mexico's federal meat-inspection regime run by SENASICA — and is listed by USDA-FSIS as eligible to export to the United States. NortMeat produces its own-brand beef at TIF Plant #651 in Guasave, Sinaloa: USDA-equivalent, HACCP-based, and MAFF-approved for Japan.
How does the TIF→USDA import process work, step by step?
Importing beef from Mexico to the US follows a fixed, government-controlled path. NortMeat's own-brand beef moves through five steps:
- Source from an export-eligible TIF plant. The Mexican establishment must appear on the USDA-FSIS "Mexico Export-Eligible Establishments" list.
- Produce under TIF inspection. SENASICA's TIF regime is recognized by USDA-FSIS as an equivalent food-safety system, which is what allows the export.
- Issue the export certificate. Each shipment carries the Mexican government health/export certificate that accompanies the lot.
- Enter through a US port. Product is presented to US Customs (CBP) and FSIS at an official import-inspection establishment (I-house).
- Pass FSIS reinspection. FSIS re-inspects the lot before it is released into US commerce.
NortMeat coordinates steps 1-3 from its Mexican entity, PPP Foods, and receives the product in the US through Nortmeat Distribution LLC.
How do I verify a Mexican beef plant is export-eligible?
Verify eligibility directly on the public USDA-FSIS "Mexico Export-Eligible Establishments" list, which names each approved plant by its establishment number. Cross-check the plant's TIF number against that listing before placing an order — a marketing claim is not proof; the FSIS register is. NortMeat operates TIF Plant #651 and provides its current certificates on request.
What does NortMeat supply, and to which markets?
NortMeat is a binational meat company: it exports its own-brand TIF beef from Mexico and imports/distributes multiple proteins into Mexico from North and South America. Founded in 2016, it operates under one Mexican entity (PPP Foods) and one US entity (Nortmeat Distribution LLC).
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mexican entity | PPP Foods (TIF Plant #651) |
| US entity | Nortmeat Distribution LLC |
| Plant location | Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico |
| Beef origin | Sonora, Sinaloa, Durango |
| Certifications | TIF #651, USDA-equivalent, MAFF (Japan), HACCP |
| Value-added | Portioned cuts, vacuum-packed |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Markets served | US (CA, AZ, TX, FL), Mexico, Japan |
| Protein | Origin | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Own-brand beef | Mexico (TIF Plant #651) | Export to US and Japan |
| Beef, pork, poultry, turkey | US, Canada, Brazil | Import & distribution within Mexico |
How do I start importing beef from Mexico with NortMeat?
Start with a sourcing conversation, not a blind order. Send NortMeat your target cuts, monthly volume, destination market, and whether you already operate as a US importer of record. NortMeat replies with certificates, specifications, and a quote. Fulfillment terms (Incoterms, port of entry, and delivery) are agreed per shipment, so each deal matches your import setup. Contact [email protected] or WhatsApp +52 687 182 8899.
Verify it yourself: NortMeat's plant (TIF #651) appears on the official USDA-FSIS Eligible Foreign Establishments — Mexico list as export-eligible. Confirm any establishment number there before contracting.
Frequently asked questions
- Is NortMeat beef USDA- and TIF-approved for US import?
- Yes. NortMeat produces its own-brand beef at TIF Plant #651 in Guasave, Sinaloa, which operates under Mexico's federal TIF inspection (recognized by USDA-FSIS as equivalent), is HACCP-based, and is MAFF-approved for Japan. Confirm current eligibility on the USDA-FSIS Mexico Export-Eligible Establishments list before contracting.
- What is the difference between TIF and USDA inspection?
- TIF (Tipo Inspección Federal) is Mexico's federal meat-inspection regime, run by SENASICA. USDA-FSIS inspects US plants and reinspects imports at the port of entry. The United States recognizes Mexico's TIF system as equivalent, which is what allows export-eligible TIF plants to ship beef into the US.
- How do I verify a Mexican plant can export beef to the US?
- Check the public USDA-FSIS Mexico Export-Eligible Establishments list, which names each approved plant by establishment number, and match it to the plant's TIF number before ordering. NortMeat operates TIF Plant #651 and shares its current certificates on request.
- What happens to the shipment at the US port of entry?
- Product is presented to US Customs (CBP) and FSIS at an official import-inspection establishment, and FSIS re-inspects the lot before releasing it into US commerce — only then can it move to the buyer. NortMeat coordinates production and export through PPP Foods and receives the product in the US through Nortmeat Distribution LLC.
- How do I start importing beef from Mexico with NortMeat?
- Send your target cuts, monthly volume, destination market, and importer-of-record status to [email protected] or WhatsApp +52 687 182 8899. NortMeat responds with certificates, specifications, and a quote. Fulfillment terms (Incoterms, port of entry, and delivery) are agreed per shipment.