Brazilian beef exports to China are temporarily on hold after a case of mad cow disease was confirmed in the northern part of the country.
The cattle disease, known scientifically as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), was confirmed by Brazil’s agriculture and livestock ministry on Wednesday.
Reuters says the suspension is part of an animal health agreement made between the two countries and likely won’t last long. However, it is a hit to the bottom line for the country’s farmers as China is the top destination for Brazil’s beef exports.
Minister Carlos Favaro says, “All measures are being taken immediately at each stage of the investigation, and the matter is being handled with total transparency to guarantee Brazilian and global consumers the recognized quality of our meat.” The ag ministry also says, “The symptomology indicates that it is the atypical form of the disease, which appears spontaneously in nature, causing no risk of dissemination to the herd and human beings.”
Source: NAFB News Service