Saudi Arabia bans meat from 5 Brazilian poultry plants

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the largest importer of Brazilian chicken, only renewed the import of meat from 25 of the 30 plants that sent shipments to the country.

(Courtesy of the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein)
(Courtesy of the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein)

Only 25 of the 30 Brazilian poultry plants that have recently exported chicken meat to Saudi Arabia were authorized by the health authorities of that Asian country to maintain the shipments in 2019, leaving out five facilities, including some of Brazil's two largest poultry companies, JBS and BRF

According to a spokesperson of the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA), this measure affects shipments to “Saudi Arabia, the largest buyer of chicken meat from Brazil.” 

On its behalf, the Ministry of Agriculture of Brazil (MAPA) did not directly comment on the suspension but informed in an official statement that it “became aware” of that decision. 

The MAPA added that “the approval of these plants is the result of a mission that this Arab country sent to Brazil in October 2018, when they visited poultry plants, farms, and feed mills." The 25 plants authorized for 2019 were responsible last year for 63 percent of the volume of chicken meat exports to Saudi Arabia, representing a total sale of 437,000 tons of that protein, according to MAPA.

The ABPA explained that, although Brazil has 58 plants enabled to export to Saudi Arabia, “until now only 30 did it effectively. The reasons given for the non-authorization of the other authorized plants are due to technical criteria. Corrective action plans are under implementation to retake authorizations.”

“The ABPA is in contact with the Brazilian government so that, in dealings with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, possible questions arise and the other plants are included. In addition, the plants that are not currently authorized will have the support of the Ministry to obtain the authorization to export to this market,” the ABPA said in a statement.

Economic commentators, such as those of the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper, pointed out that this withdrawal of Brazilian companies from the Saudi market “could be the beginning of the imposition of economic barriers, due to the intention of the new Government of Jair Bolsonaro, not yet specified, to move the Brazilian embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem."

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