Brazil’s minister for agriculture Blairo Maggi has said that it would be possible to reopen the US market to Brazilian beef in 30 or 60 days.

Maggi was speaking at a meeting with the US secretary of agriculture Sonny Perdue in Washington on Monday.

He said that while it is difficult to set a deadline for the market to reopen, it would be possible to do so in this timeframe.

“We have to wait for the analysis of the information they are receiving,” he said, adding that the dialogue with the US secretary of state was very clear and open.

A team of experts has been in Brazil since 13 July to address the demands made by the US government to restore beef imports, interrupted because of the findings of Operation Weak Flesh.

Changes

“I’m sure that the changes we’ve made are technically acceptable and greatly change the previous level.

“So I’m excited because I know they will be recognised by the American technicians,” Maggi said.

One of the measures taken was to stop loading the entire front carcasses of cattle.

It is in this part that the vaccines are applied and where reactions to the application have been detected, according to the Brazilian ministry for agriculture.

Bone in meat problems

Another alleged problem was the presence of bone in meat exported to the US.

“No country free of foot-and-mouth disease with vaccinations can export pieces of bone.

“As Brazil has changed and is making smaller cuts, it is possible to observe this and to ensure that findings that have prevented the entry of Brazilian meat do not happen anymore.

“There is equipment in the fridges that can detect this. Each [box of meat] goes through a scanner. “

Return ‘as soon as possible’

The meeting with Perdue, according to Maggi, exceeded expectations.

“The result was better than I expected. The commitment was made that the return [of Brazilian beef to the US market] will be as soon as possible, once things are clear.

“There is no political objection on the part of the US secretary of state,” he said.

Background

In September of last year Brazil was granted access to the US market after 17 years out of the market. As a result, 15 slaughterhouses were able to export raw beef to the US.

However, in March Operation Weak Flesh revealed that rotten or tainted meat was being sold by factories.

US officials then began to inspect 100% of meat imported from Brazil, finding problems in some Brazilian meats. Exports were suspended from all 15 exporters.

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