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In Brazilian livestock farming, there has been no second confirmation of bird flu so far. The government is preparing for the resumption of exports currently halted.
There has been no second confirmation of bird flu in Brazilian livestock farming. The government is preparing for the resumption of exports currently on hold.
Brazil is preparing to resume its poultry meat exports, which were halted in mid-May due to an outbreak of bird flu in a commercial livestock operation in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
The inspections of suspected cases on farms have all been completed with negative results, reported Agriculture Minister Carlos Fávaro to the local press on Wednesday. While the virus continues to circulate among wildlife, it does not lead to trade restrictions. These could be lifted after 28 days without another disease occurrence in livestock farming.
Against this background, Brazil has initiated negotiations with several countries for the resumption of poultry meat deliveries, according to Fávaro. He mentioned China and the European Union, as well as Mexico and South Korea, as specific examples. These countries, along with 17 others, have completely suspended business so far. Another 18 states and regional groups currently do not accept poultry meat from Rio Grande do Sul or from the affected city of Montenegro under regionalization agreements.
South Africa seeks a quick solution as well. Even outside of Brazil, efforts are being made to resume deliveries. For example, the South African government, which currently does not import poultry meat from Brazil, confirmed taking corresponding steps. The South African Meat Processors Association (Sampa) called for quicker action.
Sampa considers a regionalization agreement urgently necessary. South Africa's meat processing relies on imports of mechanically deboned poultry meat from Brazil. Without these, food security and jobs in South African meat processing are at risk, according to Sampa. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that South Africa produces almost no mechanically deboned poultry meat itself. The demand is therefore met by imports from Brazil, totaling 150,000 tons in 2024.
