Brazilian Agriculture Minister Fávaro said on Sunday (July 6) that after China suspended imports of Brazilian chicken following a case of avian influenza detected at a commercial farm in May, China is now studying how to lift the ban as soon as possible.
According to Reuters, Fávaro said the issue was brought up in talks between Brazilian President Lula and Chinese Premier Li Qiang. He said China is assessing the matter.
Before the official opening of the 17th BRICS Summit, Li Qiang met Lula in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday (July 5).
Fávaro said: “During the bilateral meeting, President Lula expressed the hope that China would reconsider the restrictions.” He added that Li Qiang said China is “accelerating the review of the relevant quarantine agreement to resume purchases of Brazilian poultry.”
Although the talks did not mention a specific timeline for lifting the ban, Fávaro emphasized that Brazil is making active efforts to restore export markets.
Previously, after the avian flu case in Rio Grande do Sul, more than 20 countries imposed import bans on Brazilian poultry products. After the World Organisation for Animal Health declared the outbreak resolved at the end of June, most countries gradually lifted the restrictions.
Affected Brazilian chicken exports saw a sharp decline, and government data show that exports of chilled chicken meat fell by 23% in June to 314,000 tons.
The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture announced last Thursday (July 3) that seven countries had lifted their import bans, but nine countries—including China, Malaysia, and Peru—are still maintaining theirs.