Processors in the states of Mato Grosso, Rio Grande do Sul and Parana should be free from their ban by Russia, Brazil's main market for meat exports, which began a full-scale embargo in mid-June of last year. The resumption of exports still depends on an official statement being issued from Russia, and confirmation provided to each exporting business.
Although Brazil's three main meat sectors have compensated somewhat for the drop in Russian orders by expanding other markets or opening new ones completely, “it is undeniable the importance of the Russian market,” said Mendes Ribeiro, minister of Agriculture, via press statement. “The perspective for next year is that the Brazilian meat sector hits record highs in exports with ease.”
Brazil's beef industry has been the most successful in maintaining its export levels by improving sales to other markets. Pork exports to Russia reduced some but maintained more than 25 percent of Brazil's total volume and revenue sales. Poultry exports didn't fare as well in 2012; following the embargo the yearly average of poultry sales to Russia fell by more than 50 percent.
The embargo's end was announced Wednesday, following a Nov. 23 meeting in Moscow with Brazilian ambassador Carlos Antonio da Rocha Paranhos, Secretary of Agricultural Defense Enio Marques Pereira, and the head of Russia's veterinary surveillance agency, Rosselkhoznadzor. Officials from each country will meet again in January to continue working toward fully synchronizing the veterinary and phytosanitary guidelines of Brazil and Russia.
Since the embargo started in June 2011, more than 160 inspections have been made by Brazil's animal sanitation authorities in establishments that export animal products, 10-plus meetings have been held with Russian officials trying to resolve inconsistencies between each country's sanitation guidelines, and Brazil has submitted multiple action plans to reach compliance.
Russia's stated reasoning behind the embargo last year was based in technical and sanitary violations by Brazilian slaughterhouses, but Brazilian industry leaders and diplomats said throughout 2011 that they thought the ban was politically driven, with Brazil's support for Russia's WTO bid the end-goal. Around 90 Brazilian slaughterhouses were still banned in the three key states, as of this week.
