MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil halts chicken exports due to bird flu outbreak

Brazil hopes to resume shipments to China in less than 60 days, Fávaro explained

Following the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil suspended chicken meat exports to China, the European Union, and Argentina, adhering to sanitary protocols. China, Brazil’s largest chicken buyer (importing over 561,000 tons in 2024), imposed a 60-day import ban, while the EU and Argentina also halted imports until Brazil is declared virus-free.

Brazil, the world’s leading chicken exporter, is implementing containment and eradication measures, including isolating the farm, culling affected birds, and monitoring the area.

Authorities are confident the outbreak can be controlled within 28 days, potentially resuming exports to China sooner. The Agriculture Ministry emphasized that poultry meat and eggs remain safe for consumption.

While some countries limit restrictions to the affected region, China and the EU enforce nationwide bans. Brazil is negotiating with the EU for regionalized embargoes and has informed global partners and the World Organization for Animal Health to maintain transparency.

No additional commercial farm cases have been reported, though a suspected case in wild animals is under investigation.

“As of today, for 60 days, China will not be buying Brazilian chicken meat,” Agriculture Minister Carlos Fávaro told reporters. Brazil sold China over 562,000 tons of chicken meat last year, the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA) noted.

“The Brazilian system is so reliable and efficient that several countries changed their protocols because they know that Brazil knows how to do containment. That is why trade restrictions are maintained only in the region where the outbreak is. Some countries have not changed their protocols, which is the case of China,” Fávaro also explained.

Hence, and “in order to respect the agreements signed with China and the European Union, exports are restricted throughout the country,” Fávaro also pointed out.

“We already have regionalization protocols for embargoes with Japan, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina. Since the first cases of avian influenza in wild birds, we have intensified protocol reviews with different countries,” Fávaro acknowledged.

“With efficiency in the blockade and transparency in the information, once the total elimination of the outbreak is proven and sanitary safety is reestablished, we will be able to reestablish the commercial flow even before the 60 days,” Fávaro mentioned.

Other measures to “isolate and eliminate the outbreak,” Rio Grande do Sul Governor Eduardo Leite posted on X. He insisted that the population “can continue eating” chicken and eggs “with total safety.”

The EU bought more than 231,000 tons of Brazilian chicken last year, representing 4.49% of Brazilian exports of this product.