Brazil May Resume Chicken Meat Exports in 28 Days, Says Fávaro

Agriculture and Livestock Minister Carlos Fávaro stated on Monday (May 19) that Brazil could regain its status as free of avian influenza and resume chicken meat exports within 28 days, provided no new cases are detected.

“The key is to block and trace everything from the farm fully. The risk of new cases is significantly reduced by destroying all of this production. Once this protocol is completed, the virus cycle ends in 28 days,” said the minister, referring to the confirmed outbreak at a breeder farm in Montenegro (RS) last Friday (May 16).

According to Fávaro, the timeline follows criteria set by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and is necessary for Brazil to be officially recognized as virus-free.

“If no new outbreaks are recorded within 28 days, we can inform the market and buyers, based on science, that Brazil is free of avian influenza,” he told journalists.

Despite the possibility of regaining sanitary status, Fávaro noted that export normalization would be gradual.

“It doesn’t mean all markets will reopen immediately. Many countries will want clarifications, and that’s natural,” he remarked. He also emphasized that, with the disease contained, restrictions could be reduced to state or municipal levels. “Certainly, those that suspended imports from all of Brazil may restrict them only to Rio Grande do Sul or even just to Montenegro,” he said.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa), 35 countries suspended imports of Brazilian chicken meat on Sunday (May 18).

Even though the outbreak is localized, the suspensions reflect requirements established in trade agreements, such as those with China and the European Union.

See below a history of Brazil’s chicken meat exports. The chart was prepared using DataLiner data:

Brazilian Chicken Exports | Jan 2022 – Mar 2025 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

China Was Close to Resuming Imports from RS

Fávaro also mentioned that China was close to resuming chicken meat imports from Rio Grande do Sul, which had been suspended due to a Newcastle disease case identified last year.

China was on the verge of resuming imports from Rio Grande do Sul. During President Lula’s mission last week, the GACC [China’s customs agency] indicated satisfaction with the reports presented,” he said. “Unfortunately, the new restriction is due to a different issue.”

First Commercial Outbreak in Brazil

The case confirmed last Friday (May 16) is the first of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a commercial poultry farm in Brazil.

According to Mapa, the disease was identified in a breeder flock in Montenegro (RS), and all sanitary measures were taken to contain the outbreak.

In a statement, the ministry emphasized that consuming meat or eggs is safe and that the products remain safe.

“Brazilian and international consumers can rest assured about the safety of inspected products. The risk of human infection from the virus is low and generally limited to people with direct contact with infected birds,” the ministry explained.

Mapa Investigating New Suspected Cases

Following the confirmed outbreak in Montenegro, Mapa is investigating at least six new suspected cases of avian influenza in different states. The investigations are taking place in Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Mato Grosso, Tocantins, and Sergipe.

Reports from two commercial farms, three subsistence farms, and one case involving a wild bird are among the new suspicions.

Source: Agrofy

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