February 27, 2008

Brazil to increase number of meat exporters to Russia

The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture said Monday it is planning to expand the number of meat processors allowed to export meat to Russia.

The announcement was made after a meeting between head of ministry Reinhold Stefanes and Sergei Dankvert, director of RosSelkhozNadzor, Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision.

RosSelkhozNadzor experts on Tuesday finalized the inspection of 40 Brazilian enterprises subject to get approvals for the export of meat.

Brazil used to have a robust export to Russia until the incidence of the foot-and-mouth disease was registered in the southern state of Mato Grosso do Sul at the end of 2005, when Russia banned further imports.

Russia is the major buyer of Brazilian meat. According to the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, 29 percent of all beef or 461,900 tonnes, was exported to Russia in 2007.

Pork exports last year also grew by four percent to amount to 278,700 tonnes while chicken meat exports amounted to 193,900 tonnes.