November 23, 2007

EU delays entry of Paraguayan beef

Paraguay is applying for re-entry to the EU beef market, but the decision has being delayed as a result of the current assessment of Brazil by EU authorities. EU has already conducted two recent audits and modifications to the Paraguayan meat processing sanitary structure.

The Paraguayan beef industry is trying to recover its fresh beef market to the EU, which was lost in 2003 due to a series of issues involving the Paraguayan sanitary system.

According to industry sources in Paraguay, the EU technical team is trying to avoid further complications by delaying the decision on Paraguay, until the situation of Brazil is solved. Brazilian beef is also under scrutiny due to foot-and-mouth-disease contamination in some Brazilian states.