Brazil: Barbalho predicts rapid resumption of beef sales to China

The governor of Pará, Helder Barbalho (MDB), told Valor yesterday that he believes that the results of the Canadian laboratory, expected this week, should confirm that the case of "mad cow disease" identified in a bovine in Marabá (PA) is an unusual episode. Helder assesses that by the end of March, exports of Brazilian meat to the Chinese will have been reactivated. But he admits impact on the local market. On the 22nd, “mad cow” disease was identified in a 9-year-old male bovine from a property in Pará. After two confirmations in Brazil, samples from the animal were sent to the National Center for Animal Disease/Canadian Food Inspection Agency (NCAD/CFIA), in Canada, a reference laboratory of the World Organization for Animal Health (WHOA). Canadians will confirm whether it is an atypical episode or a classic case. Brazil has embargoed exports to China, as provided for in an agreement between the two countries in episodes of this type. It is up to China to choose when to buy ...