Brasília – China allowed the resumption of Brazilian beef imports as of this Wednesday (15). The suspension of purchases began on September 4, after the discovery of two cases of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), also known as mad cow disease, in Nova Canaã do Norte, in the state of Mato Grosso, and Belo Horizonte, in Minas Gerais.
China is the leading destination for Brazilian beef, accounting for 48% of international sales in the sector. In 2020, the total revenue of exports to the Chinese market surpassed USD 4 billion.
According to the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply (MAPA), Brazil ordered the suspension “in respect of the protocol signed between the two countries, which determines this action if cases of BSE are found; even if atypical.”
The MAPA stated the animals developed the disease “spontaneously and sporadically, not related to the ingestion of contaminated food.” Brazilian authorities also mentioned there was no transmission of the disease between animals.
“We resumed the normal flow of exports to China, after a period of negotiations, with information exchanges and meetings with teams from the Chinese authorities. This is good news for the sector because [China] is the main export destination for Brazilian beef. Now, we are back to the situation we were in before the suspension,” said this Wednesday (15) the Agriculture and Livestock Defense secretary at the MAPA, José Guilherme Leal.
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
