September 20, 2004

Russian Bans Brazilian Meat On Foot-And-Mouth Outbreak

Russia has suspended all meat imports from Brazil as a result of a recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the Amazon basin, a spokesperson from the Brazilian Beef Industry Exporters Association, or Abiec, said.
 
This is the second time this year the Russia has banned Brazilian meat imports. The embargo includes beef, chicken and pork imports.
 
One week ago, the government confirmed that four head of cattle tested positive for foot-and-mouth disease in the municipality of Careiro da Varzea, in the eastern region of Amazonas state located in the Amazon basin.
 
The government has set up floating inspection centers on the Madeira River to keep animals from being transported out of the state.
 
Russia is Brazil's top fresh and frozen beef and pork market and is also an important market for Brazilian poultry exports.
 
In June, after an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease on a farm in the neighboring state of Para, both Argentina and Russia banned imports of Brazilian meat. The ban cost Brazil an estimated $36 million due to lost exports to the two nations.
 
On Thursday, Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture announced that it was beginning an emergency vaccination campaign against foot-and-mouth disease in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, near the border with Paraguay.
 
Roughly 400,000 cattle will be vaccinated on 800 farms located in four municipalities along the border with Paraguay.
 
Brazil has the world's largest commercial cattle herd.