Brazil suspends chicken exports to the EU, China, and Argentina for 60 days due to a case of bird flu.

Brazil has suspended chicken meat exports to China, the European Union (EU), and Argentina, following the identification of an initial outbreak of avian flu on a commercial farm, the government announced Friday. An outbreak of highly pathogenic influenza (HPAI) was detected on a poultry farm in Montenegro, in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, according to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, which clarified that "the disease is not transmitted through the consumption of poultry or eggs." In addition to China and the EU, Argentine health authorities announced the suspension of Brazilian chicken imports until the neighboring country is declared free of avian flu. "Starting today, for 60 days, China will not be purchasing Brazilian chicken meat," Brazilian Agriculture Minister Carlos Fávaro told reporters. In a subsequent statement, the ministry explained that "in order to respect the agreements signed with China and the European Union, exports are restricted ...