Japan conducts final audit to approve imports of Brazilian beef

Japan will send a delegation to Brazil in November to conduct the final audit of Brazilian slaughterhouses, a decisive step toward opening the Japanese market to Brazilian beef — a goal awaited by the agribusiness sector for more than two decades.

According to Agriculture Minister Carlos Fávaro, the visit should complete the sanitary protocol required by Tokyo, and the official announcement of market access is expected later in 2025.

Brazilian beef exports to Japan are set to begin with southern states — Santa Catarina, Paraná, and Rio Grande do Sul — the first to obtain foot-and-mouth disease-free status without vaccination. The plan is to gradually include other regions, since Brazil achieved national certification at the end of May.

This phased approach aims to accelerate approval, preventing Japan from having to repeat inspections nationwide and thereby delaying export clearance.

Sanitary rigor and trade relevance

Recognized as one of the world’s most demanding markets, Japan enforces a series of technical and sanitary procedures before authorizing foreign suppliers. Currently, 80% of Japan’s beef consumption is supplied by the United States and Australia.

With annual imports exceeding 700,000 tonnes, Japan represents a strategic market for Brazil to diversify its export destinations, particularly after higher tariffs imposed by the U.S.

The negotiations gained momentum following President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s visit to Tokyo in March and mark a strategic milestone in Brazil’s bid to strengthen its role as one of the world’s leading protein exporters.

Source: Portal IN

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