Source: Anna Flavia Rochas, MEATINGPLACE, 3/27/17


China, Chile and Egypt decided to resume Brazilian meat imports after temporary bans within the past week, Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture announced Saturday.

The countries were among more than a dozen nations that have restricted purchases from Brazil, following the March 17 announcement of a Federal Police probe on alleged corruption involving 33 public sanitary inspectors and 21 meat processing plants.

Meat purchases from the processing plants under investigation, which include BRF's facility in Mineiros (Goiás state) and JBS' Seabra Alimentos in Lapa (Paraná state), will remain suspended, in line with a block established by the Brazilian government.
China, Chile and Egypt resumed their imports after receiving clarifications and technical information from the federal government on the investigations. South Korea had already decided to resume imports from Brazil on Tuesday (21), after a brief suspension.

The decisions to resume purchases bring some relief to the Brazilian meat industry, which accumulated millions of dollars in losses last week due to the temporary bans. China alone is the second largest importer of Brazilian poultry, and the third largest buyer of pork.

“The resumption of shipments after explanations by the Brazilian government shows the confidence that China places in our production system for the food security of its population, offering the same quality that we deliver to the Brazilian market,” said Francisco Turra, president of the Brazilian poultry and pork industries association ABPA.

Brazilian Minister of Agriculture Blairo Maggi said that China's decision is a “categorical statement of the strength and quality of the Brazilian sanitary system.” He added that the decisions by Egypt and Chile “confirm the confidence of the international community in our world-renowned and robust sanitary control system.”

Hong Kong, Mexico, Algeria, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Panama, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Bahamas, Granada and Qatar are countries still maintaining full suspension of meat imports from Brazil, according to a list updated by the Ministry of Agriculture on Saturday.

Japan, South Africa, Peru, Canada, the European Union, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam announced last week that they will not buy meats from some of the production plants under investigation in the Federal Police probe.

Israel, Barbados and Russia sent requests for information to the Brazilian government about some meat exporting units. The U.S., Argentina and Malaysia have strengthened controls on sanitary inspection of Brazilian products.

Minister Maggi said on Friday that the U.S. won't block Brazil's meat. “American ambassador Michael McKinley called me saying that this is the position of Sonny Perdue, nominated to hold the position as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.”

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