The Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Fávaro, reiterated that the government maintains the expectation of Japan opening up to Brazilian beef this year.
"For over 20 years, Brazil has been seeking this market. There were some sanitary barriers that were overcome, such as, for example, the recognition by the World Organization for Animal Health of Brazil as Free of Foot-and-Mouth Disease without Vaccination," he told journalists, after participating in the opening of the Conference of Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas.
He recalled that Japanese authorities made an inspection in June and will come to conduct a final audit in November at the meat processing plants. "I think the protocol will be ready and we should have the announcement, God willing, still this year," he estimated.
The government had hoped that the announcement from Japan regarding the opening of the market could be formalized during COP30. However, there are still issues to be resolved between the countries.