European Commission Lists 106 Approved Brazilian Ranches

EU/Brazil                                                                                    

European Commission Lists 106 Approved Brazilian Ranches

The European Commission has posted a list of 106 Brazilian cattle farms now eligible to supply meat for export to the European Union (EU).  The 106 farms are estimated to contain about 86,000 head.  The USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) projects the total Brazilian cattle herd in 2008 at 197.48 million.

According to Erin Daley, USMEF manager of research and analysis, all the establishments listed, except for those in Rio Grande, are in regions infected by foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).  This is somewhat surprising, since it suggests that the EU is confident that these holdings have sufficient traceability programs to ensure that animals reside in an FMD-free zone for 90 days prior to slaughter.

The EU is expected to add to this preliminary list and eventually agree with Brazil on a larger compromise list of Brazilian farms approved to export to the community.  Even then, it will be difficult for Brazilian slaughterhouses that are mandated to slaughter only animals eligible for the EU to source the roughly 1,000 head per day they need to operate at minimum capacity until the number of approved farms is increased.

The EU has sent three teams of veterinary inspectors to Brazil who will conduct farm audits until March 15.

EU/Brazil                                                                                    

European Commission Lists 106 Approved Brazilian Ranches

The European Commission has posted a list of 106 Brazilian cattle farms now eligible to supply meat for export to the European Union (EU).  The 106 farms are estimated to contain about 86,000 head.  The USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) projects the total Brazilian cattle herd in 2008 at 197.48 million.

According to Erin Daley, USMEF manager of research and analysis, all the establishments listed, except for those in Rio Grande, are in regions infected by foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).  This is somewhat surprising, since it suggests that the EU is confident that these holdings have sufficient traceability programs to ensure that animals reside in an FMD-free zone for 90 days prior to slaughter.

The EU is expected to add to this preliminary list and eventually agree with Brazil on a larger compromise list of Brazilian farms approved to export to the community.  Even then, it will be difficult for Brazilian slaughterhouses that are mandated to slaughter only animals eligible for the EU to source the roughly 1,000 head per day they need to operate at minimum capacity until the number of approved farms is increased.

The EU has sent three teams of veterinary inspectors to Brazil who will conduct farm audits until March 15.