The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced this week they are proposing amendments to its regulations that would allow the importation of fresh beef from specific Brazilian states. The proposed regulation changes would allow the importation of chilled or frozen beef, while the USDA works to protect the U.S. from an introduction of foot-and-mouth disease.
Back in December, the USDA and Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply issued a joint statement pledging to work together on "science-based rule making" that would allow both countries to expand their bilateral beef trade.
Based on a risk assessment and series of site visits, the APHIS concluded that Brazil has the veterinary infrastructure in place to detect and effectively eradicate an foot-and-mouth disease outbreak if necessary. Prior to actual importation of beef from these Brazilian states, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service also must determine Brazil as eligible to export fresh/frozen beef products after a final regulation by APHIS has been published.
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