Brazil poultry and pork export losses reached $40 million
Article continues below
Major trading partners with Brazil — China, Hong Kong, Egypt, Mexico and Chile — had implemented total or partial bans on imports of meat products from Brazil. On March 25, China, Egypt and Chile lifted bans on Brazilian meat imports.
In the United States, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture imposed point-of-entry re-inspection of meat from Brazil by Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) inspectors; and all ready-to-eat products from Brazil will be re-inspected and tested for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.
JBS, the world’s largest meatpacker, and BRF, the world’s largest exporter of chicken products are among dozens of meat companies targeted by the investigation. Both companies have denied any wrongdoing.
ABPA said Brazilian meat exporters have incurred global impacts due to “misunderstandings” spurred by “Operation The Flesh is Weak,” a two-year investigation by the Federal Police in Brazil into bribes paid to federal regulators in exchange for loosening food safety regulations.
More than 100 individuals, mostly health inspectors, face allegations of taking bribes, failing to inspect meat processing facilities and falsifying documentation, among other accusations.
ABPA said the bans represent 20 percent of revenue generated by chicken exports, 33 percent of international pork sales and 14 percent of shipments of turkey meat.
Losses associated with ban are equivalent to 22 percent of $185 million in revenue generated by meat exports in one week based on previous weekly averages, the association said. ■