June 19, 2006

Brazilian state waits for clearance to export beef

Brazil is eagerly awaiting a decision from the World Organization for Animal Health, or OIE, to declare its Para state free of foot-and-mouth disease with vaccination.

Such a declaration by the OIE would mean the Amazon state's beef could be exported to world markets. The state's 17.5-million-herd is Brazil's fifth-largest.

Para is expected to become a major center for Brazil's beef trade in the next few years if OIE declares it safe from foot-and-mouth disease with vaccination.

The southern part of the state had been declared free of foot-and-mouth disease earlier this year by Agriculture Minister Roberto Rodrigues.

It is estimated that around 90 percent of the cattle in Para has been vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease.

OIE has declared the northwest Amazon states of Rondonia and Acre free of foot-and-mouth disease with vaccination, though both states have smaller herds than Para.

Although it has not been officially cleared, the state has been exporting live cattle to some countries, such as Lebanon.