March 9, 2007

Brazil to promote its pork, beef in Japan
 

Brazil's Agriculture Minister Luis Carlos Guedes Pinto will use a world organisation for animal health (OIE) technical ruling to encourage Japanese purchases of Brazilian pork and beef.

The OIE declared Santa Catarina, which is Brazil's main pork state, as foot-and-mouth disease-free without vaccination.

Guedes Pinto is scheduled to arrive in Japan on Sunday (March 11), where he will promote Brazilian beef and pork.

The agriculture chief said Japan imports Brazilian chicken, but not a single kilogram of pork or beef. 

Guedesa said Brazil has recognised the extremely strict sanitation regulations of the Japanese government and the OIE's ruling on Santa Catarina will be helpful; in the negotiations.

Guedes Pinto also said that he will invite a Japanese Agriculture Ministry delegation to visit Brazil to evaluate local sanitation conditions.