Brazil is officially free from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in commercial poultry farms, having completed the 28-day sanitary standstill. Since the announcement, the country has recorded 33 days without new outbreaks in professional establishments.
On June 18, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) formally notified the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about the conclusion of the sanitary standstill—an essential step required under international protocols to eradicate the disease focus.
The standstill began on May 22, following the disinfection of a farm in Montenegro, Rio Grande do Sul, which had reported the first and only confirmed case of HPAI on May 16.
With all necessary sanitary measures completed and no further outbreaks detected, Brazil can confidently reaffirm its status as free from HPAI—a crucial condition for resuming negotiations with international markets that had imposed temporary restrictions.
“We do not celebrate a crisis, but we must acknowledge the strength of our sanitary system, which responded with total transparency and efficiency. We contained the outbreak, followed all international protocols, and now move forward responsibly towards recovering international trade,” stated Agriculture Minister Carlos Fávaro.
The notification to WOAH is being managed by the Secretariat for Agricultural Defence at Mapa, adhering to strict technical criteria and full transparency. This inclusive process—from the outbreak detection to the self-declaration of disease-free status—has been meticulously documented.
Resuming Trade Efforts
Alongside this declaration, the Brazilian government is actively engaged in discussions with countries that had previously restricted imports of Brazilian poultry products, with hopes to expedite the reopening of these markets.
“We have successfully reached the end of the sanitary standstill with the formal self-declaration that Brazil is free of avian influenza in commercial poultry farms. This reinforces the credibility of our sanitary system and marks a significant step towards normalizing exports,” emphasized Carlos Goulart, Secretary for Agricultural Defence at Mapa.
Rebuilding Consumer Confidence
The Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA) has welcomed the formal self-declaration sent to WOAH. ABPA President Ricardo Santin asserted that this action is crucial for accelerating negotiations to restore Brazil’s poultry exports to markets currently under restrictions or suspensions.
“The 28-day sanitary standstill accounts for two full life cycles of the virus, ensuring the affected farm’s safety. This self-declaration reinstates our sanitary status. Amid ongoing outbreaks in numerous countries—especially amongst major poultry producers—Brazil has successfully navigated the only incident in its poultry sector’s history,” Santin concluded.
