Santa Teresa Port Reinspection Set for Dec. 9; Still No Reopening Date as FDA Approves Another NWS/Cattle Fever Tick Drug
Regulators weigh border readiness while rolling out parasite-control tool for cattle producers
U.S. and Mexican officials will conduct a Dec. 9 inspection of the Santa Teresa, New Mexico, port of entry, a key step toward reopening the critical livestock crossing. But as of now, no date has been set for resuming operations, leaving cattle shippers and border-state producers still in limbo. The port has been closed amid concerns related to New World screwworm (NWS) risk and cross-border livestock movement.
At the same time, the FDA announced (link) a major regulatory milestone, granting conditional approval for Exzolt Cattle-CA1 (fluralaner) — an animal drug specifically approved for the control and treatment of cattle fever tick and newly positioned as a prevention and treatment option for New World screwworm (NWS) larvae. “This conditional approval gives cattle producers a new tool to combat two parasites threatening the well-being of cattle in the U.S.,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. While NWS has not been detected inside the United States, cattle fever tick remains a persistent threat along the southern border.
On Sept. 30, FDA conditionally approved Dectomax-CA1 (doramectin injection) injectable solution for the prevention and treatment of New World screwworm larval infestations, and prevention of NWS reinfestation for 21 days. Dectomax-CA1 is conditionally approved for use only in cattle.
So there are two drugs now with conditional approval.
How the conditional approval works
FDA said Exzolt Cattle-CA1 is safe and has a reasonable expectation of effectiveness, but the manufacturer — Intervet, Inc. (Rahway, NJ) — has up to five years to submit full effectiveness data to secure complete approval. FDA officials emphasized that the agency is “leveraging every resource” to keep veterinarians and producers equipped as concerns rise about NWS detections in northern Mexico.
To protect the food supply, the drug comes with a 98-day slaughter withdrawal period, and cannot be used in lactating dairy cows, dairy calves, veal calves or breeding-age bulls (≥1 year old).
The topical, single-use formulation, applied along the dorsal midline from the shoulders to the tailhead, will be available by prescription only in 250 mL, 1-liter and 5-liter bottles.
Bottom Line: The timing of the Santa Teresa inspection — and continued uncertainty around reopening — arrives as producers and state agencies heighten vigilance following multiple NWS cases in northern Mexico, including the northernmost detection to date. The FDA’s conditional approval now adds a long-awaited tool to the prevention arsenal, but agencies continue to stress that surveillance, movement controls, and rapid reporting remain essential to prevent accidental introduction of NWS into the United States.
