The state of Santa Catarina in Brazil has announced a ban on the import of Vietnamese tilapia to prevent virus risks.

The ban is seen as a major defensive action by the local authorities in Brazil to safeguard aquatic biosecurity, aiming to prevent the "Tilapia Lake Virus" (TiLV) from potentially invading the local aquatic system through import channels. TiLV is a highly pathogenic virus that has caused large-scale fish deaths in multiple countries in Asia, with a mortality rate that can reach up to 90%. If it were to enter the Brazilian aquaculture system, the consequences would be unimaginable. Local priority: State government "puts the brakes" on federal policy The issuance of this ban directly responds to the previous decision by the Brazilian federal government to reopen imports of Vietnamese tilapia—a policy implemented prematurely without completing the risk assessment (ARI), which has sparked widespread controversy in the industry. The Santa Catarina state government believes that this federal measure lacks sufficient scientific evidence and epidemic prevention safeguards. Tiago Bolan ...