Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, André de Paula, and China’s Ambassador to Brazil, Zhu Qingqiao, recently signed a revision to the bilateral sanitary protocol on pork offal exports. The document expands the list of Brazilian products authorised to enter the Chinese market and creates new business opportunities for approved establishments.

The negotiations established sanitary and certification requirements, as well as the conditions companies must meet to export. Products covered by the protocol include pork stomachs, livers, hearts and kidneys, as well as skin, cartilage and bones.

The Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA) estimates that more than 100,000 tonnes of Brazilian pork offal a year could be destined for the Chinese market. Access to this market is expected to add more than US$100 million to the sector’s revenues. André de Paula said the measure could increase the value of Brazilian production and generate income and jobs.

The announcement came as a Chinese audit of Brazilian establishments concluded. Launched on 20 September, the audit included visits by Chinese technical officials to production facilities, livestock farms, slaughterhouses and official laboratories in six Brazilian states.

(Source: Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, 28 September)