May 13, 2004

Brazil Notified Of Temporary Soybean Import Ban By China

Brazil's government on Wednesday received official notification from China of a temporary ban on Brazilian soybean imports from four trading firms. This is because of contamination of a shipment, an Agriculture Ministry official said.

"The Chinese informed us that exports were suspended after a cargo of soybean was discovered to have been mixed with seeds treated with fungicide," said Macao Tadano, the ministry's animal and vegetable health secretary.

In late April, Chinese quarantine authorities reported that a cargo of 59,000 metric tons of Brazilian soybeans had been found to be tainted with seed coating agent in Xiamen, Fujian province. According to Tadano, the Chinese government said that it would consider suspending all Brazilian soybean imports should further contaminated cargos be discovered.

China is the principal destination for Brazilian soybean exports, importing 6.1 million tons in 2003 last year.

"The Agriculture Ministry, police and customs officials will increase inspections of ports and warehouses, especially in Rio Grande do Sul (the origin of the contaminated shipment) to avoid a repeat occurrence. ... Contaminated cargos will not be certified for export to China," he said.

The blacklisted firms are Noble Grain Pte Limited, Cargill Agricola S/A, Irmaos Trevisan S/A-Ind Com, E Agricultura, and Bianchini S/A Industria Comercio E Agricultura.

Tadano said ministry officials would meet Friday with representatives of the companies involved to discuss the situation.