The staff of Rio de Janeiro state's consumer protection agency, PROCON, inspect and remove chicken products that are not frozen from a freezer at a supermarket in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on March 24, 2017. Brazil, the world's biggest beef and poultry expo
Saudi Arabia halted chicken and beef imports from four Brazilian plants that the South American nation’s authorities are investigating for possible sales of tainted meat.
The kingdom’s Food & Drug Authority stopped imports of beef, poultry and products from four plants operated by BRF SA, Seara Alimentos Ltda, JJZ Alimentos SA and Frango DM Industria e Comercio de Alimentos Ltda, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Consumers were advised to avoid or get rid of products from those plants. All four facilities are being investigated by Brazil’s federal authorities in the Weak Flesh Probe, according to a list posted on Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry website.
Saudi Arabia imported 744,000 metric tons of Brazilian chicken meat in the period from February 2016 through January this year, making it the second-biggest buyer after China and Hong Kong combined, according to Brazilian meat exporters group Abiec. Its beef imports were 28,676 tons over the same period.
The United Arab Emirates suspended shipments from six Brazilian meat plants and told importers to recall any of their products from local stores.
The six plants are operated by JJZ Alimentos SA, Frango D M Industria E Comercio De Alimentos Ltda, Frigorifico Larissa Ltda, Breyer & Cia Ltda, Seara Alimentos Ltda and BRF SA, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said Thursday in an emailed statement. It cited Brazil’s decision to suspend activities of 21 domestic companies allegedly involved in “unhealthy practices in the production process.”
The six facilities ship products outside of Brazil, while only one of them exports directly to the U.A.E., the ministry said. Imports are banned for all products from the plants, including frozen beef and poultry, some frozen vegetables, honey and frozen fish, it said.
Importers were told to withdraw these products and destroy them if necessary or return them to the country of origin under the supervision of the food safety authorities in each emirate.
Brazilian authorities said last week that an investigation showed about 40 companies, including JBS SA and BRF, had been involved in illicit activities such as bribing inspectors to approve the sale of spoiled meat and adding chemical substances to mask the poor quality. The companies have denied the allegations.
Brazil’s exports of meat and products to Arab nations came to $574 million in the first two months this year, out of Brazil’s total exports of $1.8 billion to the same countries, according to the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce.
Some of the world’s biggest meat buyers are slapping limits on supplies from Brazil as producers in the country become embroiled in the tainted-meat scandal.
China to lift suspension on Brazilian meat imports - minister
Brazil's Agriculture Minister Blairo Maggi told Reuters on Saturday that China will lift its suspension on imports of Brazilian meat following clarification of inspection irregularities.
Two sources in Beijing said Chinese customs will allow entry of Brazilian meat except for products from one processing plant that remains suspended. Brazilian meat imports have already started being cleared in Shanghai, one of the sources said.
Chinese authorities also decided that meat approved by anyone on a list of seven Brazilian veterinary experts would not be allowed into the country, the sources said.
