President Lula reinforces commitment to opening markets for Brazilian beef
The meeting was attended by members of ABIEC (Brazilian Association of Meat Exporting Industries), an entity that represents the main exporters of beef in Brazil.
Led by President Lula himself, the meeting provided a direct dialogue between the government and the production sector. Leading the ABIEC members were the executive president, Roberto Perosa, and the chairman of the board of the entity, Renato Costa, who presented the priorities of the export sector and reiterated the commitment of the production chain to maintain the high standards of quality, sustainability and animal health required by international markets.
The meeting was also attended by several ministers of State, including the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Carlos Fávaro, as well as presidents and former presidents of the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate, and the president of ApexBrasil, Jorge Viana.
During the meeting, President Lula highlighted the government's efforts to strengthen foreign trade with countries that do not yet import Brazilian meat, especially in light of the health advances that place Brazil among the safest countries in the world. He emphasized that the country is about to be recognized by the World Organization for Animal Health (WHO) as a territory free of foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination, with this status expected to be made official in May of this year.
"As Minister Fávaro rightly said at the meeting, there have been more than 20 years of negotiations, which had been at a standstill for five years. Now, we see that, with this visit, things are starting to move forward, mainly due to the health improvements in our livestock. We already have five states free of foot-and-mouth disease, and as of May, all of Brazil will be recognized as free. We are very confident. Japan is the third largest importer in the world and, although we export only 30% of our production, with the growth of our livestock and access to new markets, we are ensuring sustainability for the entire chain. It is good for the industry, good for the producer and good for the country", highlighted Renato Costa, president of the ABIEC Board.
Brazilian beef plays an important role in the national economy, accounting for 8.2% of the country's GDP. Although Brazil is the world's largest exporter, responsible for almost 20% of global production, approximately 70% of national production is destined for the domestic market, meeting domestic consumption and consolidating the importance of the sector for the country's food security.
"ȚIt was an extremely productive meeting, marked by the President of the Republic’s clear commitment to the sector. The dialogue was open, direct and conducted with great respect. We are confident that we will move forward in opening up the Japanese market — a legitimate expectation of the sector, which is fully prepared to meet, with excellence, the highest standards required", highlighted Roberto Perosa, president of ABIEC.
In addition to the meeting with President Lula, ABIEC members participated in strategic meetings during the presidential mission. One example is the meeting with the Japan Meat Traders Association, where opportunities for cooperation and strengthening trade relations between the two countries were discussed. The delegation also visited local meat markets and slaughterhouses, aiming to better understand the specificities and demands of Japanese consumers.
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