MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil recovers the Russian market for its beef exports

On March first, Brazil, following sanitary protocol imposed an embargo on meat from animals slaughtered in the state of Pará that were more than 30 months old.

Brazil has announced the end of the Russian embargo on Brazilian beef produced and exports in the state of Pará. Russia imposed the restrictions during March, after the confirmation of an atypical case of BSE or “mad cow” disease in Marabá, in the south of the state, in late February.

The Brazilian government stated that Russia’s decision to lift the restrictions came simultaneously with the reopening of the Philippine market on March 28, representing the full normalization of the beef trade. On March first, Brazil, following the sanitary protocol imposed an embargo on meat from animals slaughtered in the state of Pará that were more than 30 months old.

Brazilian animal health authorities explained that, unlike the classic form of the so-called “mad cow” disease, the atypical form is an autonomous process in the herd and does not risk public health.

In 2022, beef exports to Russia amounted to around US$165 million, the equivalent of some 24 thousand tons. The Philippines has become the sixth destination for beef exports from Brazil, totaling US$275 million in 2022.

The Brazilian government also revealed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, (Itamaraty), has been acting strongly since the Pará incident to avoid undue closing of markets.