U.S., Canada lift ban on Brazilian beef

WASHINGTON – USDA and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, in coordinated actions, have lifted the temporary ban on imports of Brazilian beef. Mexico is expected to make a similar announcement.

Three weeks ago, the three NAFTA countries halted imports of Brazilian beef. The decision to lift the suspension followed a joint site visit to Brazil by animal health specialists of the three NAFTA nations.

After reviewing and analyzing the data necessary to compile a bovine encephalopathy risk assessment, animal health authorities of the three countries concluded that Brazil has taken sound measures to prevent the introduction and spread of the disease.

Three conditions have been imposed on imports of Brazilian beef into the U.S., Canada or Mexico:

* Shipments must be certified as containing beef products from cattle born and raised in Brazil and not from any imported sources of beef;

* The beef must come from cattle born after Brazil enacted its 1996 ruminant-to-ruminant ban;

* Shipments must have a statement accompanying them that certify the cattle used in the products were exclusively grass-fed and not fed any animal proteins.