China bans Spanish poultry imports after bird flu detection
Customs authorities cite avian influenza outbreak as reason for suspension
CHINA – China is halting poultry and poultry product imports from Spain following an avian influenza outbreak, according to a notice from the country’s customs administration.
The suspension, which takes effect on Thursday, follows recent developments in global poultry trade, where bird flu has triggered multiple market closures.
On July 7, reports indicated that Brazil’s poultry industry was beginning to recover as China reviewed the possibility of lifting its own ban on Brazilian chicken meat.
The Chinese ban on Brazilian chicken was implemented after a bird flu case was confirmed at a commercial farm in May, prompting Beijing to restrict imports from the world’s largest poultry exporter.
Brazilian Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro said on Sunday that negotiations are ongoing between the two countries, following discussions between President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Favaro told journalists that he addressed the poultry trade issue during the bilateral meeting and that China is assessing existing health protocols as part of its decision-making process.
While China has not provided a clear timeline for resuming purchases, the review signals potential progress after more than 20 countries imposed similar restrictions on Brazilian poultry earlier this year.
Most of those restrictions have since been lifted, following a ruling by the World Organization for Animal Health in late June that the outbreak in Rio Grande do Sul had been resolved.
Even with the easing of bans elsewhere, Brazil’s poultry exports dropped sharply in June, with fresh chicken meat shipments declining by 23 percent to 314,000 tonnes.
On Thursday, Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry announced that seven additional countries had reopened their markets to Brazilian poultry exports.
However, bans from China, Malaysia, and Peru remain in place, keeping significant market opportunities closed for Brazilian producers.
The Brazilian government says it will continue pushing for market access, calling on countries with remaining restrictions to reconsider based on international animal health guidelines.
This latest suspension involving Spain adds to ongoing disruptions in global poultry trade caused by bird flu outbreaks in various exporting nations.
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