The recently reported cases of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BCE), popularly known as mad cow disease have brought about deep changes in the world meat market. At the same time, the position of the Brazilian suppliers has been strengthened, since they operate in a country which is free from such hazards.
Regarding meat exports as a whole, Brazil held second position in 2003 (after the USA) among the main exporters, having shipped an estimated 3.1 million tons, equivalent to $4.1 billion.
Although there is no consolidated data available on the ranking of exporters, Brazil has become, for the first time ever the leading world exporter (1.3 million tons), followed by Australia (1.2 million), the USA (1.1 million), Canada (615,000), New Zealand (535,000), EU (530,000) and India (420,000 tons).
Regarding geographic distribution, upto November 2003 the major destination markets for the Brazilian beef were the United Kingdom ($165 million), the Netherlands ($l47million), Chile ($134 million), the USA ($133 million), Russia ($96 million), Egypt ($83 million), Italy ($81 million), Germany ($60 million), Saudi Arabia ($60 million and Hong Kong ($56 million).
The five main markets for unprocessed meat - which upto November 2003 amounted to 732,000 tons/$1 billion - were Chile, Russia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands.
Brazil's position is even stronger when we consider that the Brazilian livestock - the world's second after India totals more than 160 million bovines and that Brazil currently has around 120 destination markets for beef. Brazil currently exports unprocessed beef to 80 different markets.
This is significant, as it proves that the countries purchasing this product have confidence in its safety.
In 2001, for the first time, external sales of unprocessed red meat exceeded the shipment of processed meat, proving the international credibility of the Brazilian product.
Brazilian meat production has comparative advantages over other countries. In fact, one of the reasons for the gradual gains in productivity is the introduction of strict sanitary controls over the past few years, a decision that made the Brazilian product one of the safest in the world.
The sector is also stimulated by low production costs - below the world average for this sector.
Moreover, the raw material used for feeding the cattle is of vegetable origin (soya-meal, corn, rice, sorghum, sugarcane, bagasse, and various other silage's) very often mixed with urea and mineral supplements.
The process does not include the addition of any animal byproducts, which could lead to the transmission of various diseases, especially BSE.
Therefore, this is one of the factors that may explain Brazil's unique situation in terms of BSE contamination risk.
It is also important to point out that Brazilian beef production is almost exclusively based on breeding and fattening animals in an extensive system (ie open grazing) rather than in confinement.
Cattle farming is spread over around 150 million hectares, equivalent to 18% of the national territory.
Therefore, the Brazilian Livestock is internationally renowned as "green cattle" ("gede vordo"). All the meat exported by Brazil is analysed by MAPA's Federal Inspection Service - SIF (Service de Inspecao Federal), whose quality label guarantees that the product is inspected and that it has complied with all sanitary norms imposed by the importing countries.
In February 2002, the Brazilian Bovine and Bubaline Identification and Certification System -SISBOV (Sistema Brasileiro de Identificacao e Certificacao de Origem Bovina e Bubalina) was created within MAPA's Agricultural Defence Secretariat - SDA (Secretaria de Defesa Agropecuaria) SISBOV's objective is to accredit public and private national organisations in order to accomplish the individual certification of origin, identification, registration and monitoring of all bovines and bubalines, both national and imported MAPA has been developing, through the SDA, important phylosanitary control mechanisms.
In addition, MAPA has been prioritising research work in the agricultural field. Agricultural defence actions includes protecting, defending and guaranteeing the production and sustainable productivity of food in the country.
MAPA also seeks to boost technology programmes under the Brazilian Agriculture Research Corporation - EMBRAPA (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria), which truly represents a model of excellence for research and development in the agribusiness sector.
The SDA actions are thus directed to external and internal demand and are based on implementing zoo-sanitary and Phytosanitary measures adopted by international forums and foreign government in order to meet the export needs.
The guarantee, protection and defence of Brazilian livestock result from the development of national programmes, vaccination campaigns, disease and transport control actions, and risk reduction actions when introducing exotic diseases in the country.
Therefore, effective zoo-sanitary defence and monitoring is achieved through the following measures: Prevention, control and eradication of infectious diseases; implementation of the National Brucellosis and Tuberculosis control and eradication programme; sanitary control of the national livestock out by 1,419 local units. 407 fixed centers and 601 itinerant teams, which interact with the public services executing animal sanitary defence actions; laboratory support; inspection of veterinary products in 520 manufacturing and importing companies; sanitary measurers in order to keep the foot-and-mouth free zone status in the livestock circuits; foot-and-mouth vaccination programme; permanent epidemiological surveillance - through local veterinary units - in order to preserve and improve livestock sanitary conditions, and consequently enhance the value of national livestock, in line with the International Epizootic Organisation.
The inspection, supervision and classification procedures for animal products and byproducts are applied; a) in more than 45000 industrial businesses, including 850 exporters; b)in the slaughtering of approximately 17 million bovines, and 4.5 billion fowls; and c) in the production of milk, estimated at around 21 billion litres.
Ministerial Ordinance 516 of December 9, 1997, declares Brazil as a BSE-free zone, in agreement with the rules of the international zoo-sanitary code. Brazil's BSE-free zone status was confirmed by the EU Scientific Steering Committee.
On March 30, 2001, the EU SSC unanimously approved the final report which included Brazil in the category of lower risk country concerning BSE (level I). Up to now, no BSE case has ever been reported in Brazil.
(The writer is Honorary Consul of the Brazil Consulate in Karachi)