BRAZIL – Brazil has halted its poultry meat and egg exports to 44 countries after the Newcastle viral disease was found on a farm in Rio Grande do Sul.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) confirmed this suspension on July 19, affecting exports to major markets including China, Argentina, and Mexico.
The disease, impacting both domestic and wild birds, was detected on a farm in Anta Gorda. In response, Brazil declared a 90-day zoosanitary emergency in the affected state.
This is the first confirmed case since 2006, which previously involved subsistence birds in Amazonas, Mato Grosso, and Rio Grande do Sul.
To maintain transparency and adhere to international trade standards, Brazil has temporarily halted certification of poultry and related products.
The suspension varies by region, with a national halt for key markets like China, Argentina, and Mexico, while others face regional restrictions based on proximity to the outbreak.
Specifically, Brazil’s suspension to China, Argentina, and Mexico covers fresh poultry meat, eggs, meat for animal feed, raw poultry material for therapeutic purposes, meat preparations, and untreated blood products.
Meanwhile, Rio Grande do Sul’s export suspension affects the EU, UK, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and 25 other countries, impacting a wide range of poultry products, including fresh, chilled, or frozen meat, eggs, offal, and processed items.
A 50km radius around the Anta Gorda outbreak sees further restrictions, affecting exports to countries like Canada, South Korea, Israel, Japan, Morocco, and Pakistan. These restrictions, however, do not apply to products produced before July 8.
Mapa has clarified that products undergoing heat treatment, such as cooked or processed items for Argentina, South Africa, Chile, the EU, and Uruguay, remain unaffected and can be certified as usual.
The ministry emphasized that the suspension rules are reviewed daily in collaboration with partner countries to eradicate the outbreak.
Major Brazilian meat processors, including JBS, BRF, and Marfrig Global Foods, are assessing the impact. BRF, operating five plants in Rio Grande do Sul, plans to redistribute production across its 38 facilities in Brazil, leveraging new export permits obtained in recent years.
Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil’s third-largest chicken exporter, shipped 354,000 tonnes of poultry products worth US$630 million in the first half of this year, with key destinations being the UAE, Saudi Arabia, China, and Japan.
Agriculture Minister Carlos Fávaro noted that the outbreak has not reached epidemic levels, as only one bird in a flock of 14,000 was affected.
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