The Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA) welcomed the decision by Chinese authorities to recognise all of Brazil as free from foot-and-mouth disease. According to industry representatives, the measure will provide an important boost to the country’s pig sector and further strengthen trade relations between Brazil and China.
ABPA President Ricardo Santin said the decision is the result of years of coordinated efforts by Brazilian authorities, veterinary services, and producers aimed at building confidence in the country’s animal health control system.
“This achievement is the result of consistent technical work carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, state animal health services, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ApexBrasil, and the production sector. It represents another important milestone for pig farming and for Brazil’s entire agricultural sector,” Santin said.
Export Potential Expands
According to ABPA estimates, extending sanitary recognition to additional states with export-approved processing plants could generate more than 40,000 tonnes of additional pork exports per year to the Chinese market.
The association expects the measure to have a positive impact on job creation, foreign exchange earnings, and producer income.
Until now, only the state of Santa Catarina held Chinese recognition as a territory free from foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination. Seven processing plants in the state are authorised to export pork to China.
With the new recognition, the same status will now apply to Rio Grande do Sul, which has eight export-approved plants, as well as Mato Grosso, which has one authorised facility.
As a result, these regions will be able to export not only conventional pork products but also bone-in pork and certain edible offal products to China.
In addition, further opportunities may emerge as other Brazilian states and processing plants seek future export authorisations.
Strengthening Brazil’s Position in Global Markets
Industry representatives believe China’s decision further reinforces Brazil’s reputation as one of the world’s leading suppliers of safe and high-quality food products.
According to Ricardo Santin, the recognition of Brazil’s entire territory as free from foot-and-mouth disease demonstrates the high level of confidence in the country’s veterinary control system and creates favourable conditions for further expansion of bilateral trade.
“This recognition strengthens Brazil’s position as a reliable food supplier and creates new opportunities for the sustainable expansion of exports. It also confirms the high level of sanitary trust between Brazil and China at a time of growing global demand for safe food produced under rigorous biosecurity standards,” he said.
The decision by Chinese authorities could become one of the most significant developments for Brazil’s pig sector in recent years and substantially enhance the country’s presence in one of the world’s largest pork markets.
PigUA.info, based on materials from The Pig Site