June 30, 2020

Brazil's agriculture ministry says three meatpacking plants banned by China

The agriculture ministry said China's General Administration of Customs has imposed a temporary ban on meat imports from three Brazilian plants due to COVID-19, Reuters reported.

The companies were not named by the ministry. China did not provide a reason to the ban.

The agriculture ministry said China's customs authorities have requested for information related to exports to China after Brazilian media reported COVID-19 outbreaks among meat plant workers. All requested information was provided.

A source told Reuters that a Marfig plant in Várzea Grande was one of the three plants affected by the suspension.

The agriculture ministry's website database showed a JBS poultry plant in Passo Fundo and a privately-owned Minuano plant in Lajeado was both suspended.

The agriculture ministry is investigating the cause of the suspensions and is currently discussing ways to lift the suspensions. It added that a fourth plant was voluntarily suspended from exporting to China owned by Agra Agroindustrial De Alimentos, a beef exporter.

-   Reuters