Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that the first shipment of fresh beef from the United States has arrived in Brazil after a 13-year hiatus. The entry of American beef into the Brazilian market presents a promising long-term economic opportunity for U.S. beef producers.
“With the reopening of the vast Brazilian market to the U.S., American beef exports are poised for new growth. I look forward to Brazilians having the opportunity to taste delicious American beef because once they try it, they will want more,” said Secretary Perdue.
Brazil closed its market to imports of fresh American beef in 2003 due to concerns over bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Since then, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (Aphis) have been continuously working with Brazilian authorities to regain market access.
Additionally, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) provided documentation and information regarding American food safety requirements and standards related to beef. After several meetings and technical discussions, Brazil officially reopened the market on August 1, 2016, based on the United States’ classification by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) as a negligible risk country for BSE.
Source: br.usembassy.gov