February 23, 2007

Brazil wants individual health status for its states

Brazil is trying to obtain an individual animal health status for every state in the country, senior analyst Emma Cardy-Brown of the Dutch Rabobank said in the Dutch newspaper Agrarisch Dagblad.

States like Sao Paulo and to a lesser extent Mato Grosso do Sol have fewer incidences of animal diseases than the mid-west of Brazil. If these states were granted a separate disease status, it would help in the growth of pork and beef export, pointed out the analyst.

The aim is to make Brazil the world's largest exporter of pork. Currently, it stands next to the US, the EU and Canada.

The country is still struggling with frequent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease and classical swine fever.