FACTS:
1 - No birds from commercial breeding grounds were contaminated by Avian Influenza in Brazil, only wild and free birds found in nature
2 – No case was detected in humans in Brazil
3 - The prevention protocol was immediately implemented by the government and organizations of the sectors
4 - There are no changes in the Brazilian disease-free status before the World Organization for Animal Health (OMSA), therefore Brazil continues to produce and export without any impediment
According to the entity that represents the meat sector, the preventive measure was already foreseen and aims to 'debureaucratize' monitoring actions and possible risk mitigations.
The Ministry of Agriculture published this Monday, May 22, in an extra edition of the Official Gazette, Ordinance 587, in which it declares a state of zoosanitary emergency throughout the national territory for 180 days. The measure occurs due to the detection of cases of infection by the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus (IAAP) in wild birds in Brazil.
In the document, the Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Fávaro, indefinitely extends the validity of Ordinance 572, of March 29, 2023, which establishes preventive measures throughout the country against the entry and spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
So far, cases of the disease have only been detected in wild birds, but not in commercial flocks.
The Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA) released a note in which it declares that the measure was already "foreseen and widely discussed by the ministry with the productive sector".
The entity that represents the poultry and pork meat producing and exporting sector also highlights that it is a "anticipation" measure, which seeks to speed up action responses through the integration of the ministry with state agencies and the release of resources. , between others".
For ABPA, the decision "reinforces the transparency and the strategic leadership role of the Ministry of Agriculture in this process that, until now, has been restricted to monitoring occurrences in wild birds in the national territory", it says, and completes: "There are no changes in the Brazilian disease-free status before the World Organization for Animal Health (WHOA), precisely because there is no record of the disease in commercial production".
Cases impact food sector?
No. Birds infected with avian flu are not part of the Brazilian industrial system, informed the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA).
This means that the cases do not affect the poultry and eggs available in supermarkets and the food security of the population. In this way, producers have not yet been affected and production continues normally.
Also, avian influenza is not transmitted by eating poultry or eggs.
Health Protocols and Control Measures
We highlight that Brazil is the largest exporter of animal protein in the world and a reference in health protocols.
In order to shield the Avian Influenza production system, the Gepia (Special Group for the Prevention of Avian Influenza) was created, whose attributions include surveying bans in relation to the notification of countries, surveying documents and normative acts, preparing biosecurity, survey of State Funds, communication and image with campaigns aimed at disease prevention, data collection on PPE kits, re-discussion of CSIs and discussion on the use of vaccines.
On commercial farms, biosecurity protocols are being intensified. Access to commercial poultry houses is being restricted to small groups of workers and the application of good practices is being rigorously reviewed. All this effort aims to keep Brazil away from mass contamination.
The market
The emergence of the disease in Brazil will require more attention from producers, since its eventual arrival at commercial farms will bring serious damage to the country, world leader in exports.
The contamination of commercial breeding grounds in Brazil would be a global tragedy, since an imbalance in the world supply could lead to an increase in the prices of chickens and eggs and a boost in demand for fish, beef and pork, direct substitutes. It is worth mentioning that countries where the Islamic religion is the majority have chicken as their main protein base, since the consumption of pork meat has religious restrictions.
Brazil has been very transparent in international communications. It is clear that so far there is no indication of a risk for commercial poultry production, however, there are those who express concern about a possible development of the current health situation. Like Izaak Breitenbach, Executive Director of the South African Poultry Association (SAPA). For him, “the avian flu in Brazil could strongly affect the poultry sector in South Africa”.
In an interview with the South African website 702, Breitenbach declared that “most of the chicken we eat [in South Africa] comes from Brazil”. That is why he points out that a potential crisis will not only lead to a shortage of chickens in the country – “which will probably cause prices to rise sharply” – but may also affect jobs in the poultry sector.
Estimating that there are enough stocks in cold storage rooms in South Africa for the next four months, the director of SAPA
Some importers and international distributors are increasing import volumes in order to increase the stock of healthy products. This is an extreme measure in cases of possible product shortages in the future.
Let's believe that Brazil will be polyvalent enough to protect its commercial production.
Comments