September 5, 2006

Brazil beef company allowed to export beef to US after suspension

Brazil-based private meat packer Bertin Group said Monday (Sep 4) that its meat-packing facility in Lin, Sao Paulo, would restart exports to the US cooked-meats market after a three-week suspension.

The US government temporarily suspended imports of cooked meats like corned beef from the plant because of packaging problems. Bertin's US clients had complained of torn metal packages of shipments.

US officials notified Brazil's Agriculture Ministry of the suspension removal Friday, Bertin said.

The suspension was not related to beef quality or animal health but a US inspection team visited Bertin's facilities in Sao Paulo in late August.