Brazil: digital certificate streamlines poultry meat exports to European Union

Brazil has streamlined its poultry meat exports to the European Union with the introduction of the Digital Certificate of Origin (DCO). This digital document significantly reduces the time it takes to complete export procedures, from up to nine days to just a few minutes. The move aims to cut costs and provide exporters with greater legal certainty.

On Monday (26), the first export using the digital certificate was carried out through the port of Rotterdam, Netherlands.

The Certificate of Origin is crucial for Brazilian exports to access European tariff quotas set by the World Trade Organization (WTO). Previously implemented with the United Kingdom, it now applies to all 27 European Union member states.

Annually, around 14 thousand certificates, each costing R$ 166, are issued for exports to the European Union and the United Kingdom. The transition to digital operations eliminates this fee, saving Brazilian exporters approximately R$ 2.3 million per year.

In 2023, exports of poultry products to the European Union reached US$ 490 million, accounting for 55% of total exports worldwide. The digital certificate must be obtained through the Single Foreign Trade Portal.

The following chart shows the volume of Brazilian poultry meat exports to the EU between January 2022 and December 2023. The data is from DataLiner.

Poultry Exports to the EU | Jan 2022 – Dec 2023 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

This achievement is the result of collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services (MDIC), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE), and the European Commission. It aims to facilitate bilateral trade, enhance controls, and integrate operations into the Single Portal, simplifying bureaucratic processes.

“This milestone reinforces Brazil’s position as the world’s leading poultry meat exporter and showcases our ability to innovate and streamline trade,” emphasizes Geraldo Alckmin, Vice President and Minister of MDIC. “President Lula’s government remains committed to partnering with the productive sector to enhance the competitiveness of Brazilian products in the global market,” he concludes.

During the transition, MDIC will provide a dedicated communication channel (codigitalue@mdic.gov.br) to address any questions or difficulties encountered by exporters and importers.

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