China will resume beef imports from Brazil that had been suspended since June 3, due to the notification of an atypical case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), detected in Mato Grosso.
China is the only country among Brazil’s importers that has a sanitary protocol requiring the temporary suspension of imports when an atypical case of BSE is detected. The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, Tereza Cristina, received the news of the reopening of the Chinese market and confirmed that negotiations for a new protocol with Chinese sanitary authorities will continue.
The disease was found in a 17-year-old beef cow. All specific risk material for BSE was removed from the animal during the emergency slaughter and incinerated at the slaughterhouse. Other products derived from the animal were identified, located, and seized preventively, with no products entering the human or ruminant food chain. Therefore, there was no risk to the population.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) concluded in June the request for additional information from Brazil regarding the case, which showed that there is no sanitary risk. Beef exports continued normally to other countries.
Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply