Source:  Andre Sculluchuco, MEATINGPLACE, 1/11/12

The U.S. agreed yesterday to import pork products from Brazil, the Brazilian Minister of AgricultureMendes Ribeiro Filho said yesterday in a press release.
The USDA has authorized six processing plants in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina to export their pork to the U.S., the Brazilian online newspaper DCI.com.br reports. Santa Catarina is the only FMD-free state in the country.

"The opening of the U.S. [market] is a reward for all the work done by Brazil …. We will reach new heights with this decision and the Brazilian production will gain a lot from this,” the Brazilian Minister said in a statement. “We intend to increase our pork exports to China, open the Japanese market and resume sales to Korea.”

"The United States allowed us to chose the processing plants. There was no limit. We could indicate as many that meet the requirements. It is a vote of confidence, "said Luiz Carlos Oliveira, Inspection Department of Animal Products.

According to Globo Rural, the initial U.S. concern was the lack of federal tax on authorized processing plants, but the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture is already committed to meet this requirement.

Santa Catarina will initiate pork exports as early as this week, with authorization from the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture.

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