São Paulo – The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply reported this Monday (11) that the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has issued accreditations enabling eight Brazilian meat packers to ship beef to the Arab country.
According to the Ministry, the newly-accredited companies are Fortefrigo, in Paragominas, Pará; Better Beef, in Rancharia, São Paulo; Rio Grande Comércio de Carnes Ltda., in Imperatriz, Maranhão; Plena Alimentos, in Pará de Minas, Minas Gerais; Indústria e Comércio de Alimentos Supremo, in Ibirité, Minas Gerais; Frigol, in São Félix do Xingu, Pará; Maxi Beef Alimentos do Brasil, in Carlos Chagas, Minas Gerais; and Distriboi – Indústria, Comércio e Transporte de Carne Bovina, in Ji-Paraná, Rondônia.
An official statement from the Ministry quoted Agriculture minister Tereza Cristina as saying this is the result of president Jair Bolsonaro’s trip to Saudi Arabia last October, and of her own trip there last September.
“This is part of the whole opening up that the Ministry of Agriculture is doing alongside the federal government,” Cristina said. “This is great news to start off the week,” she went on.
Brazil’s beef exports to Saudi Arabia fetched USD 112 million year-to-date through October, down 12.7% from a year ago, as per Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce numbers.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
