Representatives of Brazilian agribusiness celebrated this Thursday (29) the status of country free of foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination. Brazil’s condition was recognized during the 92nd Assembly of the World Animal Health Organization (OMSA) in Paris, France.
For João Martins, president of the Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil (CNA), the result was made possible by the joint efforts of the ranchers, federations, unions and public policies of states and governments over the years.
“The announcement made today, from Brazil free of footage without vaccination, is a recognition of this effort, a great achievement. More than ever, Brazil can sell meat, a very high quality product to any country in the world.”
The former minister and current senator Tereza Cristina highlighted the possibility of Brazil expanding exports to the most rigorous countries with the confirmation of proven sanitary criteria.
“Rural producers achieve a different status and can access more demanding markets, which pay more for meat and, without this status, could not be achieved,” he said.
The Brazilian Association of Refrigerators (Abrafrigo), an entity that represents beef refrigerators in the country, also stressed that recognition allows Brazil to reach the leadership in world exports of beef.
“It is important to emphasize that work does not end here. The new status also brings new challenges and responsibilities to all actors involved, with a view to keeping the herd in adequate sanitary conditions and increasingly strengthening the role of the country as a major producer and supplier of animal foods to Brazil and the world,” said Abrafrigo.
This is the first time that Brazil has achieved this condition of excellence in its sanitary controls, eradicating its territory the virus of foot-and-mouth disease. Acute infectious disease reaches cattle, buffalo, goats, sheep and pigs, causing fever, followed by the appearance of vesicles (canker sores), mainly in the mouth and feet of bold hull animals.
