Saudi Arabia bans beef imports from Brazilian meatpackers
Saudi Arabia has suspended beef imports from some Brazilian meatpackers after detection of two atypical cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) earlier this month, according to Brazil's Agriculture Ministry.Reuters reports that the ministry said the suspension took place on Sept. 6 and affected five slaughterhouses in Minas Gerais state.
"Technical information about the case has already been sent to the health authorities in Saudi Arabia," it said. "Meetings are being held, but there is still no provision for the lifting of suspensions."
Brazil, the world's largest beef exporter, had already temporarily suspended its shipments to its No. 1 customer China after confirming the atypical mad cow disease cases, in line with a health protocol signed between the two countries.
Brazil's Agriculture Ministry said on Tuesday beef exports to China remain suspended over the mad cow cases, adding it could not yet determine a timeframe for the shipments to resume.
TheCattleSite News Desk