Brazil Ups Bid for FMD-free Status
BRAZIL - The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA) has invested R$34.8 million over the last two years to guarantee seven states in the North Region and Para are Foot-and-Mouth (FMD) disease free with vaccination.According to Meat and Livestock Australia the Brazilian authorities are now hoping that the new national status will be recognised by the World Health Organization (OIE) in 2014. In order to achieve the FMD free country status, the Brazilian government has intensified sanitary surveillance and actions in the northern region to assure a positive result since 2008 .
Since the second half of 2012, the government has monitored 17,000 properties and 71,000 animal samples.
The research with the results should be finished in early May, which then the government is expected to send the official report to OIE. In Brazil, 89 per cent of the total herd is located in a FMD free with vaccination zone.
The states in the North Region account for more than 22 million cattle head, which would certify 99 per cent of the total Brazilian herd as FMD free with vaccination if recognized by OIE.
The only state recognized as FMD free without vaccination is Santa Catarina, prominent as an important pig meat producer
TheCattleSite News Desk