Paraguay: Meat industry backs proposal to end foot-and-mouth vaccination in 2027

The President of the Paraguayan Meat Chamber (CPC), Randy Ross, confirmed that the industry will support the proposal of the National Animal Quality and Health Service (Senacsa), which calls for the last vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease to be carried out in 2026 and, accordingly, to stop vaccination against the disease in 2027.

"We understand the concerns of the manufacturing sector, as we have experienced events in recent years that have affected us. However, given all the technical arguments and the current situation, I think it is important to move forward," he told 1250 AM, stressing the importance of discussing and reaching a consensus on these issues.

If we look at the commercial sector exclusively, this would be useful because it would help us to enter markets where we are not yet present and we could export meat on the bone, which can currently be sent to several countries. “First of all, we also have to think about the pig industry, which is a very important sector with great potential, and which we are holding back with our decision to continue with vaccination,” he stressed.

A meat industry spokesman said it was important to keep talking and adding criteria as technical arguments, but it was important to move forward. "I think it would be good to have all the elements in place to move into the next league. We think that would be the right way to go," he added.

He recalled that today the World Organization for Animal Health (WHO) has very good protocols and Senacsa provides all the tools "in case of a new outbreak", which is another very strong argument, since the measures have become even better than five or six years ago. There is also experience, like in Germany or other countries, which after a case became free of foot and mouth disease again without vaccination .

The change in health status could help the country enter markets such as Korea and Japan  , as well as other markets for bone cuts and offal (tongue, etc.). “Then we have to see how other markets behave. We have information that Brazil is going to impose restrictions on meat transit to Paraguay as a result of its new status as a free country without vaccination,” he noted.

Ross said this would also benefit negotiations with our main market, Chile, as that buyer has said it will prioritise purchases from countries declared FMD-free without vaccination. So at some point, immunisation could also impact the volumes or prices that are placed.

The last confirmed case of foot-and-mouth disease in Paraguay was in 2011. The CCP Chairman noted that the sector recovered in about six months and that, combined with the separation and implementation of protocols, this allowed countries to quickly emerge from the crisis.