November 30, 2007

Brazilian beef exporters open promotional office in London

Gearing up for more intensified meat exports, Brazilian beef exporters opened a promotional office in London for the Brazilian Beef Information Service (BBIS).

The BBIS will represent Brazil in the current EU debate over beef imports aside from promoting Brazilian beef.

According to BBIS director Rob Metcalfe, it is time that the "Brazilian point of view was heard. Irish and, to an extent, Scottish farmers have been using highly misleading arguments to campaign for a ban on Brazilian beef imports. The reality is that this is trade protectionism hiding behind scare stories."

He stressed that there are no health implications for human or animal in doing beef trade with Brazil. Mad cow disease is a European cattle disease and never existed in Brazil, he said.

Foot-and-mouth disease, which does not affect humans, cannot be exported in boneless, matured, chilled or frozen beef from Brazil, said Metcalfe.

Brazilian beef has been imported into Europe successfully and safely for at least 75 years and latest noise on Brazilian meat was just to create an "atmosphere of panic among EU politicians and regulators," he said. 

The BBIS is being operated by Richmond Towers Communications, which has over 30 years' experience in the meat trade via its work for former client the Meat and Livestock Commission.

There are short-term issues to address, and a longer-term campaign to initiate, said Metcalfe. The group will actively market in the UK and throughout the EU to make "sure the Brazilian message of quality, safety and value is understood".