China suspends imports from five Brazilian meat processing plants

The Chinese Government has suspended imports from five Brazilian meat processing plants as part of its Covid-19 protective measures.

The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) has also confirmed that Chinese officials have suspended meat exports from certain meat processing plants in the country.

Of the five suspended slaughterhouses, two are pig slaughterhouses, including BRF in Lajeado, Rio Grande do Sul state, and Seara, which is controlled by JBS and located in Três Passos, Rio Grande do Sul state.

The other units prohibited by the Chinese authorities include one specialised in poultry and two in beef.

The Brazilian authorities have also reportedly withdrawn the permit of one more poultry unit.

With the suspension of JBS and BRF facilities, the number of Brazilian pig slaughterhouses that have been authorised to sell to China has dropped to 14.

However, the quantity of poultry and beef facilities permitted to sell their meat products to China remain high.

The Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA) president Francisco Turra explained that there are ‘No technical basis for Chinese measures’ and all the meat products that are being exported from Brazil to China are analysed and not contaminated.

Turra said: “We proposed to minister Tereza Cristina (minister of agriculture, ed.) to fight for the obligation of delivering just surveyed products into Chinese ports.”

China is currently the largest importer of Brazilian poultry, pork and beef products and the relation between the two countries remain excellent, added Turra.

On the other hand, Brazilian meat exporters are planning to conduct tests on all meat shipments arriving in China to avoid further bans.

Earlier, the General Customs Administration of China (GACC) suspended imports from meat plants based in Europe and the US.