In a bid to revive its poultry export market, top Brazilian officials are negotiating with China and the European Union to regain access lost due to an avian influenza outbreak.
During the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro announced that China is considering lifting its ban on chicken meal imports from Brazil. This ban was instated in May 2025 after an avian influenza outbreak was detected at a commercial poultry farm in the Rio Grande do Sul region.
Unlike other major importers such as Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, which limited their bans to the affected state, China adopted a more stringent approach.
Before the imposition of the ban, Brazil was responsible for nearly half of China’s chicken meat imports, which were projected to be approximately 495,000 tonnes in 2024.
While further details were not disclosed, Favaro stated that President Lula da Silva is taking the lead in these crucial negotiations.
Back to the EU Market
On July 11, the Brazilian Agricultural Ministry revealed that Minister Favaro had discussions with EU officials regarding the steps necessary to lift current restrictions on Brazilian chicken meat exports.
“This situation should be viewed not merely as a crisis but as an opportunity to showcase the strength of our health systems,” Favaro remarked. He highlighted Brazil’s compliance with international protocols and the importance of recognizing Brazil as an avian flu-free country by the European Union.
Minimizing the Impact
The avian influenza outbreak in the Rio Grande do Sul region is projected to cost Brazil between 10% and 20% of its chicken exports, depending significantly on how quickly the situation is resolved and the response from key importers, according to S&P Global Commodity Insights.
Despite initial concerns regarding the potential spread of the virus, Brazil has successfully contained the outbreak. As per the state’s agricultural department, Brazil is now classified as free of the avian influenza virus. The 28-day countdown to reclaim the country’s disease-free status began on May 22, 2025, and concluded on June 18, 2025.
To control the outbreak, Brazilian veterinary officials implemented strict measures over the transportation of animals, animal products, and feed in the impacted region, ensuring the situation was contained effectively.
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