Algiers – Brazilian exports of thermo processed (cooked) chicken products to Algeria should boom in coming months. Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, the Brazilian Poultry Union (Ubabef), the Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association (Abiec) and companies participated on Thursday (16), in Algiers, in a series of meetings at the Veterinary Service Division of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Arab country to solve a bureaucratic impasse that barred shipment.
According to the Market Relations manager at the Ubabef, Adriano Zerbini, Brazilian authorities were too harsh regarding interpretation of registration of slaughterhouses to export to Algeria, different from the Algerian authorities.
“The government of Brazil said it could only allow export after inspection and approval of production units by Algerian authorities. They, in turn, answered that they could not do proceed with inspection as they understood that the production units certified by the government of Brazil in the list [of slaughterhouses approved for export by the Ministry of Agriculture] were automatically approved for export," said Zerbini.
According to him, the Brazilian embassy in Algiers sent an official communiqué to clarify the impasse and for the government of Algeria to formally request the list of companies confirmed as exporters by the Ministry of Agriculture, and that produce according to halal slaughter. “The Algerian Foreign Ministry should also produce a document cancelling the bureaucratic impasse that halted exports," he declared.
The secretary general at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Michel Alaby, accompanied the meeting and said that “there has already been approved certification since 2002, in place since 2008, but there was still another hindrance to exports, namely the approval of the list of Brazilian slaughterhouses". "After this meeting, I believe that Brazil may finally start exporting processed chicken to Algeria," said Alaby.
He added that Algeria should tender the operation of three slaughterhouses to process beef and mutton, with a capacity for 40,000 tonnes a year. The ministry representatives also called for exchange of scientific information in the veterinary ambient and in the poultry and beef sectors.
“They want to exchange information regarding animal products, with regard to the sanitary question, and technical collaboration between Brazilian and Algerian laboratories in the veterinary area. And greater participation of specialists in seminars and forums regarding sanitary matters and animal production," finished off Alaby.
*Translated by Mark Ament