December 18, 2012

Russia unlikely to suspend beef imports from Brazil

Russia is unlikely to suspend beef imports from Brazil due to a suspected case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalitis, according to the head of Russia's veterinary and phytosanitary service.

"We are analysing the data now, but we do not see enough grounds to place import restrictions on the whole country," Sergei Dankvert said in an interview on the sidelines of a meeting with Italian diplomats.

China, South Africa and Japan suspended beef imports from the world's top meat exporter while seeking details about the death of an elderly cow in 2010, which never actually developed the disease. None of these countries are significant buyers of Brazilian beef.

Dankvert said that if restrictions were imposed, they would most likely apply to the state where the sample originated.

Atypical BSE can arise in elderly cattle due to a spontaneous genetic mutation that causes the animals to begin producing distorted proteins known as prions. The proteins can trigger BSE, which eventually destroys the animal's nervous system, and it is believed humans ingesting beef from a stricken animal can contract a fatal form of the disease.

A 13-year-old cow in southern Brazil tested positive for prions, a result confirmed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) last week. However, it died of other causes in 2010 and never actually developed the disease.

The animal was buried on the farm where it had been used for breeding purposes and never entered the food chain.

Russia, meanwhile, is also monitoring imported US pork and beef for ractopamine, a feed additive, but has not turned away any meat since the monitoring regime was imposed, Dankvert added.