Canada allows beef and pork imports from Brazil

CANADA has approved imports of beef and pork from Brazil that were previously blocked due to problems with foot and mouth disease, authorities in both countries said on Monday.

Canada's Food Inspection Agency told REUTERS last Friday it "approved imports of raw and cooked poultry, pork and beef from Brazil."

Brazilian Agriculture Minister Teresa Cristina Diaz said Brazilian meatpackers will now be able to EXPORT to more than 200 markets around the world, which was her goal when she took over the ministry more than three years ago. 

The Brazilian pig and poultry lobby, ABPA, welcomed the announcement but said the pork permit only applied to businesses in Santa Catarina, as the state in southern Brazil was the only one declared FMD-free without vaccination. Santa Catarina accounts for over 50% of Brazil's pork exports, according to ABPA.

Negotiations between Brazil and Canada are ongoing for other areas declared free from the disease by the World Organization for Animal HEALTH.