February 13, 2008

Russia issues temporary ban on Brazil's Mato Grosso beef

Russia announced the temporary ban on beef imports from cattle raised in Brazil's Mato Grosso state following a case of vesicular stomatitis in the area.

However, the ban will not affect Brazilian beef sales as meat packers in Mato Grosso could slaughter animals brought from other states, Brazilian Beef Exporters Association (Abiec) spokesman clarified.

Furthermore, companies in Mato Grosso are allowed to supply beef which are processed in plants from different regions straight to the Russian market.

Vesicular stomatitis causes blister-like lesions to form in the mouth, tongue, lips, nostrils, hooves, and teats of cattle, horses and swine.

Animals infected with vesicular stomatitis generally refuse to eat or drink which leads to severe weight loss. The disease has similar outward signs to those of foot-and-mouth disease.

Russia was Brazil's biggest beef consumer last year, accounting for 672,500 tonnes of a total sale of 2.53 million tonnes, Abiec said.

Inspectors from Russia are scheduled to arrive in Brazil next week to visit meat and milk producers. The schedule has been set prior to the embargo announcement.