May 12, 2006

Brazil seeks to ease bans on its beef exports

Brazil's Agriculture Ministry is sending trade representatives to countries including Russia, South Africa, Chile, Algeria, Romania and the EU in a bid to woo back these markets for its beef exports.

The negotiators will seek to have bans on Brazilian beef due to foot-and-mouth disease reversed or at least relaxed for states not affected by the disease.

Fifty-nine countries have either partially or fully banned Brazilian beef imports after reports of foot-and-mouth disease in Mato Grosso do Sul and Parana states. Mato Grosso do Sul is Brazil's leading beef producing state, while Parana produces a significant quantity of beef as well.

According to the Foreign Trade Ministry, Brazilian beef exports fell to 75,600 tonnes in March, down from 94,000 tonnes during the same period last year.

The Brazilian Beef Exporters Association (Abiec) has also called for trade negotiators to take a tough stand in beef discussions with trading partners such as Chile, which has banned Brazilian beef across the entire country.

Brazil's Agriculture Minister Roberto Rodrigues is also expected to address the country's animal health problems at a World Organisation for Animal Health meeting in Paris next week.

Although Russia recently lifted a ban on beef exports from Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina states, it has not indicated intentions to do likewise for other states considered free of foot-and-mouth disease.

Meanwhile, Brazil has been buying cattle and processing the meat in states unaffected by partial bans.