MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

FAM still haunts Uruguay

FAM still haunts Uruguay

In spite of the recent joint Uruguayan-Chilean statement in Santiago, Chile still has not lifted the ban to Uruguayan beef and is waiting for the final verdict of a European Union sanitary delegation that visited Uruguay last week.During his recent visit to Chile Uruguayan president Jorge Batlle and his Chilean counterpart Ricardo Lagos announced the imminence of the lifting of the ban since Uruguay has vaccinated all its cattle against foot and mouth disease and has had no cases reported for over a month. Last April Uruguay was struck by a light strain of FAM, which was tracked to Bolivia and spread to all Mercosur members.

During the first week of October a European Union visited Uruguay and found no sanitary objections, however there were some technical differences regarding the new tracking system that identifies the beef that reaches the consumer all the way back to the animal and farm where it was born.

Last minute discussions helped to clear the situation but it's doubtful the final report will arrive in time for consideration by the EU Veterinary Committee that meets this week in Dublin to decide. To lobby the issue, Uruguay sent a special English speaking veterinary delegation to Ireland."I'm not happy with the results, maybe satisfied, but it's not enough", said Dr. Recaredo Ugarte head of Uruguay's Veterinary Services, before leaving for Dublin.

However private sources in the beef industry said that the final approval could occur this week, "but could also be deferred until the beginning of November".Chile and Israel are waiting for the European Union decision to resume Uruguayan beef imports.

President Batlle said that in the coming days Uruguay will announce it's free of FAM with vaccination, and will begin sending quarterly sanitary reports to all beef country clients in the world.

Until last April's outbreak Uruguay was free of FAM without vaccination, but under strong pressure from farmers and the rapid spread of the disease, the government ceased sacrificing sick animals and resumed vaccination.