Bird flu in top chicken exporter Brazil triggers trade bans

Sao Paulo | Reuters — Brazil, the world’s largest hen exporter, confirmed its first outbreak of fowl flu on a poultry farm on Friday, triggering a country-wide commerce ban from China and state-wide restrictions for different main shoppers.

The outbreak in southern Brazil was recognized at a farm supplying Vibra Meals, a Brazilian operation backed by Tyson Meals, in line with two individuals accustomed to the matter.

WHY IT MATTERS: Brazil is the biggest hen exporter on this planet

Vibra and Tyson didn’t instantly reply to questions. Vibra has 15 processing vegetation in Brazil and exports to over 60 international locations, in line with its web site.

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Brazil exported $10 billion of hen meat in 2024, accounting for about 35 per cent of world commerce. A lot of that got here from meat processors BRF and JBS, which ship to some 150 international locations.

China, Japan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are among the many most important locations for Brazil’s hen exports.

Brazil’s Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro stated on Friday China had banned poultry imports from the nation for 60 days. Beneath agreements with Japan, UAE and Saudi Arabia, he stated a commerce ban would solely prohibit shipments from the affected state and, ultimately, simply the municipality in query.

The outbreak occurred within the metropolis of Montenegro in Brazil’s southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul, the farm ministry stated. The state accounts for 15 per cent of Brazilian poultry manufacturing and exports, nationwide pork and poultry group ABPA stated in July 2024.

BRF has 5 processing vegetation working within the state. JBS has additionally invested in native hen processing vegetation underneath its Seara model.

State officers stated the outbreak of H5N1 fowl flu is already answerable for the loss of life of 17,000 farm chickens, both immediately from the illness or as a result of cautionary culling.

Veterinary officers are isolating the world of the outbreak in Montenegro and looking for extra circumstances in an preliminary 10 km radius, the state agricultural secretariat stated.

Favaro, the farm minister, stated Brazil was working to include the outbreak and negotiate a loosening of commerce restrictions quicker than the 2 months agreed in protocols.

“If we handle to remove the outbreak, we predict it’s attainable to re-establish a standard commerce circulation earlier than the 60 days are up, together with with China” Favaro stated in an interview aired on CNN Brasil.

Hen merchandise shipped by Thursday is not going to be affected by commerce restrictions, he added.

The ministry stated in a press release that it was formally notifying the World Group for Animal Well being.

U.S. FLOCK DEVASTATED

Fowl flu has swept by means of the U.S. poultry trade since 2022, killing round 170 million chickens, turkeys and different birds, severely affecting manufacturing of meat and eggs.

Fowl flu has additionally contaminated practically 70 individuals within the U.S., with one loss of life, since 2024. Most of these infections have been amongst farmworkers uncovered to contaminated poultry or cows.

The additional unfold of the illness raises the chance that fowl flu might develop into extra transmissible to people.

In contrast, Argentina was in a position to isolate a February 2023 outbreak and begin resuming exports slowly the subsequent month.

“All obligatory measures to manage the state of affairs have been shortly adopted, and the state of affairs is underneath management and being monitored by authorities companies,” Brazil’s poultry trade group ABPA stated in a press release.

JBS referred questions concerning the outbreak to ABPA.

BRF CEO Miguel Gularte instructed analysts on an earnings name that he was assured Brazilian well being protocols have been strong and the state of affairs can be shortly overcome.

Brazil, which exported greater than 5 million metric tons of hen merchandise final 12 months, first confirmed outbreaks of the extremely pathogenic avian flu amongst wild birds in Might 2023 in at the very least seven states.

The illness isn’t transmitted by means of the consumption of poultry meat or eggs, the Agriculture Ministry stated in a press release.

“The Brazilian and world inhabitants can relaxation assured concerning the security of inspected merchandise, and there aren’t any restrictions on their consumption,” the ministry stated.