Brazil Fights Back Against Avian Flu Export Bans

Brazil's Avian Flu Outbreak: Localized Bans Sought to Minimize Export Impact Avian flu has hit Brazil, impacting the country's substantial chicken exports. The first case, detected in a commercial farm in Montenegro, Rio Grande do Sul, triggered import bans from over 20 countries and trade blocs, including major importers like China and the European Union. While some nations have imposed complete bans on Brazilian poultry, others have opted for region-specific restrictions, targeting only products originating from the affected area. The Brazilian government is actively pushing for these more targeted blockades. "The impact on sales to the outside is zero when the embargo is only for products coming from this area," a government official stated. Ricardo Santin, president of the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA), emphasized the importance of this approach given Brazil's size and the distance between the affected region and other poultry farms. He underscored that the affected farm itself doesn't export. The international rule, as defined by the World Organization for Animal Health, is to suspend imports only from farms within a 10km radius of the outbreak. This strategy aims to mitigate the economic blow to Brazil, the world's leading chicken exporter. Negotiations are ongoing with major importers to adopt this localized approach, with the Ministry of Agriculture anticipating progress in the coming weeks. The government hopes to present technical reports demonstrating the effectiveness of this containment strategy. The G1 news website offers a complete list of countries that have suspended purchases of Brazilian chicken.