May 4, 2007

EU may likely ban beef from Brazil

London-based International Meat Trade Association (IMTA) said EU may ban all chilled and frozen beef imports by Brazil if it does not meet animal health controls by the end of 2007.

IMTA said EU, whose auditing team has returned from its inspection in Brazilian farms and meat facilities, will not consider giving deadline to Brazil to mend its deficiencies.

John Brook, US Meat Export Federation's regional director of Europe, Russia and the Middle East said the absence of Brazil on the EU beef market could fundamentally change "the supply picture" and could open to other sources of beef supply such as the United States.