Saudi Arabia to Import Brazilian Beef
SAUDI ARABIA - Brazil's agriculture minister Katia Abreu has signed an animal health agreement with Saudi Arabian officials, which puts an end to an embargo on Brazilian beef.
10 November 2015
1 minute read
The decree, according to the CEO of the Saudi Food and Drug Administration Dr Mohammed Al-Meshal, lifts the embargo immediately.
The country suspended the purchase of Brazilian beef in 2012, after an atypical case of mad cow disease.
The industry estimates that Brazil has the potential to export 50,000 tonnes of beef per year, valued at $170 million, following the opening of the market.
Dr Al-Meshal stressed the prosperity of Brazilian agriculture and thanked the partnership. "We depend on food from you, need you. The opening of the meat market is good for Brazil, but is also very good for Saudi and our population," said Dr Al-Meshal.
Katia Abreu said the next step is to expand the sale of Brazilian products that already have access to the Saudi market and exploit new items, such as fruit, honey and rice.
The aim of the Arab government is to reduce its own production of grain to avoid water consumption in agriculture.
"We are already the largest poultry, coffee and sugar suppliers for Saudi Arabia and now we have a great business opportunity for Brazil to enhance the sale of grain for this market," noted Ms Abreu.
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