Brazil faces poultry export halt as bird flu outbreak spreads
European Union has blocked poultry imports from Brazil following confirmation of bird flu on a farm. Other key markets, including China and Japan, have implemented trade restrictions.
BRAZIL – Brazil has been temporarily barred from exporting poultry and meat products to the European Union after a confirmed outbreak of avian influenza on a commercial farm, according to a statement from the European Commission on Monday.
The development follows Brazil’s announcement last Friday (16th April) of its first case of bird flu in a poultry operation, which immediately activated export restrictions from several major markets.
China, the top buyer of Brazilian chicken, responded by imposing a nationwide import ban, while Japan and other key trading partners have opted for state-specific measures.
The confirmed outbreak occurred in Montenegro, a city in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, which plays a significant role in Brazil’s poultry sector.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the affected farm supplies Vibra Foods, a Brazilian company partly owned by U.S.-based Tyson Foods.
Both Vibra and Tyson have not provided any official comments regarding the situation.
Vibra operates 15 poultry processing plants in Brazil and exports to more than 60 countries, based on company information available on its website.
In 2024, Brazil’s chicken exports were valued at approximately US$10 billion, representing around 35% of global poultry trade.
A substantial share of these exports come from major meat processors BRF and JBS, which supply poultry products to roughly 150 countries.
Key destinations for Brazilian poultry include China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, all of which have implemented varying levels of import controls.
Argentina has also announced a temporary suspension of all poultry imports from Brazil until the country is declared free of the H5N1 virus.
Brazilian Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro confirmed that under existing trade agreements, countries like China, South Korea, and the EU are required to block imports for a minimum of 60 days.
However, new arrangements with markets such as Japan, UAE, and Saudi Arabia allow for more localized bans, initially targeting only the state and potentially narrowing to the specific municipality involved.
Industry group ABPA reports that Rio Grande do Sul accounts for about 15% of the nation’s poultry output and export volume.
BRF operates five processing plants in the affected state, while JBS has significant investments there through its Seara brand.
Local authorities have reported that the outbreak has led to the loss of 17,000 chickens, either from the virus itself or precautionary culling measures.
Veterinary teams are currently working to isolate the outbreak zone and are conducting surveillance within a 10-kilometer radius to prevent further spread.
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