China will partially resume imports of Brazilian beef
China announced today that it has agreed to immediately resume imports of Brazilian beef under 30 months of age, according to a statement released by the General Administration of Customs of China, Reuters reported, "24Chasa.bg" reported.
The sale of Brazilian beef in China was voluntarily suspended by Brazilian authorities on February 23 following the discovery of an atypical case of "mad cow disease". The resumption of trading comes a day after Brazilian Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro arrived in Beijing ahead of a visit by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Sunday.
According to Brazilian beef trade group Abiec, a total of 37 plants in the country are authorized to sell beef products to China at this time. Lula will visit China, accompanied by a delegation of 240 business representatives, including 90 from the agricultural sector, BTA reported.
Beef producers in Brazil are losing up to $25 million a day to the embargo. About 62 percent of Brazil's beef exports went to China last year.