Brazilian authorities to appeal EU’s poultry import ban to WTO

From:  FoodBev

Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) will launch an appeal to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) regarding the European Commission’s ban on poultry imports from Brazilian meat manufacturer BRF.

The European Union imposed a ban on poultry imports from several BRF sites after Brazilian authorities launched an investigation into BRF’s poultry production operations, citing fears that salmonella could be present in meat imported from the country.

Brazilian authorities allege that employees from BRF bribed health officials to allow meat which could contain salmonella to be exported overseas.

Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply Blairo Maggi suggested that the EU’s ban represented an “EU trade war”, and urged the EU not to ban poultry from other manufacturers as BRF’s infractions do not affect other Brazilian meat producers.

Maggi said: “They are taking advantage of taking us out of the market due to sanitary concerns, which are unfounded.

“The decision to suspend part of the exports of three refrigeration companies was taken by MAPA itself after the Federal Police carried out an investigation.

“But as far as the EU is concerned, the ban should be extended to all of the country’s businesses.”

MAPA’s defence secretary Luís Rangel added that the ban was unnecessary, as MAPA introduced controls on the presence of salmonella in 2003 which conform with international health standards.

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