Brazil set to recommence meat exports into key markets

Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA) is in the final stages of negotiations with key markets, including Indonesia and Russia, to restart exporting beef and pork.

The countries are in the final phases of discussions and are expected to come to a decision within days.

Brazil Agriculture Minister Blairo Maggi said an Indonesian technical group will visit the country’s meatpackers in several states during a five-day visit.

Indonesia stopped importing Brazilian beef and chicken into the country last year following Brazil’s turbulent year of meat scandals.

The Minister is also finalising talks with several other countries to export its pork including South Korea and the reopening of the Russian market.

Brazilian exports to Russia were stopped in December 2017 following the discovery of ractopamine in swine cuts. Maggi has written a letter to Russian health authorities stating the measures taken by Brazil to enable the return of shipments to the market.

A meeting has been scheduled by Russian and Brazilian health authorities for next week to discuss the final resumption of trade.

Meanwhile, South Korea will only import Brazilian pork from the Santa Catarina state, as it is the only area that is free from foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination.

Brazil reported a record month for beef exports in March, totalling US$591.7 million. Meat ranked second among the total of agribusiness products exported, with beef (including raw beef, processed and offal) being the main meat of the sector.