April 14, 2008
Brazil to appeal to WTO to lift pork ban
Brazilian pork producers are planning to appeal to the World Trade Organisation in an attempt to lift Brazilian pork ban imposed by some countries, according to a report by O Estado de S. Paulo.
The Brazilian Pork Packaging and Export Association (ABIPECS) has requested the beginning of consultations with South Korea and Mexico, within the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism.
South Korea and Mexico have maintained their ban on Brazilian pork as it did not recognise Santa Catarina, Brazil's main pork producing state as a FMD disease free area without vaccination, preventing Brazil from entering new pork markets.
Santa Catarina was declared a FMD free area without vaccination by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in May 2007, a status which would allow Brazil to re-enter markets that restricted imports of Brazilian pork in 2005 due to FMD outbreaks in states neighbouring Santa Catarina.
The recognition would also allow Brazil to enter major markets such as Japan and the US but according to ABIPECS president Pedro de Camargo Neto, market penetration has been nil.
Talks with Japan are moving slowly, and the Asian country had sent veterinarians to inspect sanitary conditions at Santa Catarina farms, said Camargo.
However, South Korea has refused to recognise Brazil's FMD-free status while Mexico has been delaying the issue without making any clear statements.