The case of BSE, also known as mad cow disease, resulted in a month-long suspension of Brazilian beef exports to China as well as other states.
Sales of Brazilian beef to China were suspended on February 23 and then reopened on March 23, preceding a visit to China by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, which has been postponed while the 77-year-old leader recovers from a case of pneumonia.
China’s General Administration of Customs has said that it is now allowing imports of Brazilian beef from cattle less than 30 months of age, consistent with the current trade protocol. The country has also approved four additional beef plants in Brazil for exports, one owned by JBS.
Reportedly, Brazil is expected to seek changes to trade with China, including a relaxation of the rules around BSE suspensions, limiting them to the particular state or region where the case is found, rather than an automatic country-wide ban.
Some Brazilian media reported that beef producers in the country were losing up to US$25 million a day during the suspension, and noted that shares in Brazilian meat processors such as Minerva and JBS rose following the lifting of the ban.
Source: Beef Central
