Brazilian market reopens

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has reached agreement with Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply to allow access for U.S. beef and beef products to the Brazilian market for the first time since 2003. Brazil’s action reflects the United States’ negligible risk classification for bovine spongiform encephalopathy by the World Organization for Animal Health and aligns Brazil’s regulations to the OIE’s scientific international animal health guidelines. Both countries will immediately begin updating their administrative procedures in order to allow trade to resume. U.S. companies will need to complete Brazil’s regular facilities registration process. In a separate decision, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service also recently determined that Brazil’s food-safety system governing meat products remains equivalent to that of the United States and that fresh – chilled or frozen – beef can be safely imported from Brazil...more