China resumes importing Brazilian beef

China authorized the resumption of Brazilian beef imports, starting this Wednesday (15th). The suspension of the purchase of meat from Brazil began on September 4, after the identification of two cases of cattle with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), registered in Nova Canaã do Norte (MT) and in Belo Horizonte (MG).

China is the main destination for meat produced in Brazil, where 48% of its global sales are destined. In 2020, the total exported to that country surpassed US$ 4 billion.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa), the suspension was made by Brazil "in respect of the protocol signed between the two countries, which determines this course of action in the case of BSE, even if in an atypical way".

how was the disease

Also according to the ministry, the animals developed the disease "spontaneously and sporadically, not being related to the ingestion of contaminated food". Brazilian authorities add that there is no transmission of the disease between animals.

“We resumed the normal flow of exports to China, after a period of negotiation, with exchanges of information 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. So, we are back to the situation we were in before the suspension”, said today (15) the Agriculture and Livestock Defense secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, José Guilherme Leal.

Text translated using artificial intelligence.