October 2, 2006

Brazil and Paraguay join hands to fight FMD
 

A treaty between the veterinary services from Paraguay and Brazil has been signed in a bid to fight foot-and-mouth disease.

The move comes as the European Union laid down proposed more control over traceability and quality assurance of livestock in the region, following concerns over illicit trafficking between Brazil and Paraguay.

The EU already bans meat products from three regions in Brazil-Mato Grosso do Sul, Parana and Sao Paulo because of foot-and-mouth disease concerns.

The president of the National Service for Animal Health and Quality from Paraguay (SENACSA), Hugo Corrales, recently met with the Governor of Mato Grosso do Sul State, to import Paraguayan meat into the state.

Paraguay has started the measures to export beef to Brazil, Joao Cavall¨¦ro, the livestock head for the government in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul- Brazil, said.

This deal is expected now to lead to the first combined action against foot-and-mouth disease on the borders between Brazil and Paraguay. The programme would first involve 78 cattle farms to be surveyed by Brazilian and Paraguayan inspectors on both sides of the border. There would be a risk analysis by the Brazilian and Paraguayan inspection services and profiling of all the animals.

The information that is gathered would be sent out to the producers, veterinary services, and governments, sources said.