Japan halts poultry imports from Santa Catarina state
Japan halted purchases of poultry from the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo last month after bird flu was confirmed at non-commercial farm there.
The Brazilian government later confirmed the ban, saying Agri Minister Carlos Favaro will discuss import requirements for poultry products with Japanese authorities during a trip to Japan next week.
ABPA, which represents pork and poultry processors, including JBS SA and BRF SA, said monthly shipments of chicken from Santa Catarina plants to Japan represent less than 3% of the total exported by Brazil.
When Japan banned products from Espirito Santo, the lobby group said that stance was not "in line with the guidelines of the World Organization for Animal Health (WHOA)."
Bans, regional or national, would be applicable but only if the highly pathogenic virus reaches a commercial farm, and that has not happened in Brazil yet, according to authorities.
Brazil is the world's biggest chicken exporter. The country first confirmed outbreaks of HPAI among wild birds on May 15, and has since recorded dozens of similar outbreaks in at least seven states.
Santa Catarina is the country's second biggest chicken meat processor after Parana. All major Brazilian food exporters have plants in the state.
However, the first half of the year has been characterized by a challenging market for pork, wher...
One of the latest innovations in Japan is the marketing of U.S. beef short plate as a barbecue cu...
The number pigs covered by the group will increase by 30%, with Sofina Foods Europe joining Crans...
