WOAH grants Brazil FMD-free status as poultry exports face EU ban

BRAZIL – The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) is officially recognising Brazil as a country free of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) without the need for vaccination, according to statements from a Brazilian official and a WOAH spokesperson cited by Reuters.

This announcement is expected to be made public during a formal ceremony on June 6 following a meeting between Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and WOAH Director General Emmanuelle Soubeyran.

Brazil, which is the largest exporter of beef globally, sees the new classification as an opportunity to engage with new international markets, according to industry groups representing leading meatpackers such as JBS, Minerva, and Marfrig.

The country exported nearly US$13 billion worth of beef last year to destinations including China, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, which recently increased imports due to a shortage of slaughter-ready cattle.

Beef industry association Abiec stated that the FMD-free status could serve as a tool in negotiations with markets that maintain stricter import requirements, naming Japan as one of the potential targets.

The Philippines and Indonesia have also shown interest in sourcing beef offal from Brazil as a result of the updated health classification, according to the association.

However, Abiec also noted that the new designation carries obligations, emphasizing that maintaining proper sanitary conditions across the cattle supply chain will be critical going forward.

Brazil had originally set a target to achieve FMD-free status without vaccination by 2026, but the goal was accelerated to 2025 and officially reached ahead of schedule, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

In May 2024, Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro confirmed the end of the country’s vaccination program for FMD and said Brazil had entered a new phase in terms of livestock health standards.

Poultry exports face trade barriers amid bird flu outbreak

While Brazil prepares to celebrate its upgraded FMD status, the country is simultaneously dealing with export restrictions following the detection of avian influenza in its poultry sector.

The European Commission recently confirmed a temporary suspension of poultry and meat imports from Brazil after the virus was detected on a commercial farm.

The outbreak, Brazil’s first involving a poultry operation, was reported on April 16 in Montenegro, located in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.

In response, major buyers have taken precautionary actions, with China issuing a national ban on Brazilian chicken and other countries like Japan implementing regional restrictions.

The infected farm supplies Vibra Foods, a Brazilian poultry processor with partial ownership by U.S.-based Tyson Foods, though neither company has issued a statement on the matter.

Vibra operates 15 processing facilities and exports to over 60 countries, according to details available on its website.

Brazil’s poultry exports were valued at about US$10 billion in 2024, making up roughly 35% of the global chicken trade.

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