May 2, 2007

Brazilian states launch FMD campaign

A total of 15 Brazilian states began its vaccination campaign against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) on May 1, 2007 which greatly affected the country's beef and pork exports since last year, local agricultural news portal Agrolink reported.

The campaign--as a part of the Brazilian agriculture ministry national eradication programme of FMD--were conducted in Acre, Amapa, Amazonas, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Para, Parana, Piaui, Rondonia, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins and the Federal District of Brasilia.

The campaign obliges Brazilian cattle breeders to buy and apply vaccines themselves. The price of a single dose stands at 1.5 Brazilian reais (US$0.74/0.54 euro).

Brazil has suffered from worldwide embargoes in its beef and pork due to FMD which originated from the country's main meat producing countries such as central-western Mato Grosso do sul and Parana in October 2005. Most of the restrictions were fully lifted at the end of December 2006.