Brazil questions US tests on processed meat imports

 

 

Brazil will send a team of experts to the US next week to seek clarification about the methods it uses to test processed meat imports for residues, the agriculture ministry said on Monday (May 31).

 

Brazil's government imposed a ban on exports of processed meat to the US. last week after a shipment of meat had to be recalled by meat packer JBS when US authorities said it showed traces of a medicine exceeding the limit.

 

Nelmon Costa, director at the agriculture ministry's department for the inspection of animal-derived products said the ministry requested details on tests used on that beef but a methodology provided by the US lacked key details.

 

Costa noted a meeting for June 7 and 8 in the US to discuss the issue, adding that he expected it would be resolved there and then and that exports would resume once the meeting ended.

 

In 2009, Brazilian exports of processed beef to the US summed US$223 million, roughly 5% of the more than US$4 billion worth of beef shipped from the world's top beef producer to importers around the globe.

 

Costa said the test used was initially developed to test for residues in the liver of cattle, then later approved for tests on muscle tissue. He said there were doubts the test had ever been approved for use on heat-treated, processed meats.

 

"We want to know if some additive could interfere with the result. (The test) is not validated," he said, adding chemicals even from condiments could change the tests' outcome.

 

The tests by US authorities on the JBS shipment showed the presence of Ivermectin, a vermifuge or medicine used to expel intestinal worms, of between 10.3 and 14 parts per billion. The US limit is 10 parts per billion while Brazilian regulation permits up to 100.

 

Costa did not expect the ban his ministry imposed to have a severe impact on local meat packers whose main source of revenue is production of fresh meat, rather than processed meat such as canned corned beef with a long conservation period.

 

Meanwhile, meat packer Marfrig said it would begin shipping canned meat to the US from its plants in Uruguay and Argentina so its shipments could continue. Brazilian plants would continue serving other destinations.