Argentina, Chile join ban on Brazilian meat imports
Argentina and Chile suspended imports of Brazilian meat Thursday, joining 28 other countries with similar bans after an outbreak of foot-mouth disease, the government said.
Argentina suspended imports of all Brazilian meat, the Health Ministry said. Chile restricted its ban to meat from the midwestern farming state Mato Grosso do Sul, where the outbreak was detected, the ministry said. The 25 countries of the European Union have also suspended Brazilian meat imports, as well as Russia, Israel and South Africa.
The suspension followed the discovery this week of an outbreak of highly contagious foot-mouth cattle disease near Eldorado, in Mato Grosso do Sul.
Tests showed some 140 animals were infected, leading authorities to slaughter all 582 animals on the homestead.
Foot-mouth disease, which also strikes sheep, pigs and goats, is a highly contagious viral illness that can be spread through minimal contact with infected animals, farm equipment or meat. The disease can be fatal in animals but does not harm humans.
Brazil is the world's leading beef exporter by volume, although a number of countries, including the United States, South Korea and Japan, refuse fresh beef shipments because foot-mouth has not been eradicated.
Brazil's 190 million head of cattle gives it the largest commercial herd in the world. Mato Grosso do Sul has approximately 25 million cattle and is responsible for nearly one-half of all Brazil's beef exports.
(Published Canada.com, October 14, 2005)
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