April 28, 2014

US cattle producer opposes meat imports from Brazil

In relation to the death of an animal at a slaughterhouse in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil's Agriculture Ministry is investigating a nervous system disease, which could be a case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). 

R CALF chief executive officer Bill Bullard says Brazil's food safety system is sub-standard. He says it was four years ago when their last case of BSE popped up and they didn't even report it until two years later.

Bullard says his group opposes the current proposed USDA rule that would relax imports to allow meat from Brazil into the US. He says Brazil not only is suspect because of possible BSE and failure to report but also has foot and mouth disease in a large part of their country.

Brazil's beef export industry is forecasting record exports of 1.8 million tonnes this year. This latest possible BSE development puts their future export status into question not only with the US but also with their talks to re-open their market to Saudi Arabia and China.