MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil estimates FAM export losses in 1,7 billion US dollars

Foot and mouth export losses are estimated to reach 1,7 billion US dollars given the ban on Brazilian beef and pork in at least fifty countries, revealed Brazilian Minister of Agriculture Roberto Rodriguez before Congress.

"This year will be loosing somewhere around 500 million US dollars", said Mr. Rodriguez addressing the Brazilian Senate Agriculture Committee where he was summoned to report on the FAM situation following an outbreak that has expanded to at least five southern states.

Mr. Rodriguez said those losses were expected in the coming six months, which is the extension of time the ban on Brazilian beef and pork would apply in most countries.

However the total contraction in overseas sales of beef would ultimately total 1,1 billion US dollars and port, 600 million US dollars.

Brazil was the world's leading beef exporter in 2004, with 2,5 billion US dollars and the third exporter of pork.

The minister also announced the federal government was granting 15 million US dollars support to the two states which have suffered most the impact of FAM, Matto Grosso do Sul, where the outbreak was first reported, and Parana.

So far eleven outbreaks have been confirmed in Matto Grosso do Sul and another four in Parana which borders with Paraguay and Argentina.

Argentina has declared a state of sanitary alert in the northern provinces bordering with Brazil to prevent FAM from expanding south.

Further to the south, and to avoid surprises, Uruguay which borders with the state of Rio Grande do Sul, has imposed strict controls along the border, and Army armed patrols on horse back support the Customs and Animal Health teams.