August 15, 2008
EU clears Paraguay to resume export of matured beef
EU approved Paraguay to resume its export of fresh boneless matured beef last June as the country regained its foot-and-mouth disease-free status from the World Animal Health Organisation.
The EU market expects beef exports from Paraguay to resume gradually, making use of Paraguay's 1,000-tonne Hilton quota. Currently, only 44 farms are registered in Paraguay's traceability system and farms must be registered in the system to be eligible to export unprocessed beef to the EU.
Last week, Brazilian meatpacker Minerva acquired control of Paraguay's Friasa (with a slaughter capacity of 4,900 head/week), with prospects of increasing exports to the EU, as beef exports from Brazil to the EU are tightly restricted.
