On November 23, the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) announced that Brazilian beef that was certified before the embargo on September 4 was allowed to enter China. On the other hand, the suspension of Brazilian beef exports to China continues to take effect. As of the November 23, the beef trade has been suspended for 80 days.


The Brazilian website “G1” reported on November 23 that, on September 4, after two cases of mad cow disease were reported in the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso, Brazil suspended beef export to China, its largest beef buyer.

According to the health agreement signed between Brazil and China, trade needs to be interrupted in the event of mad cow disease. The Brazilian government decided to suspend beef exports to China, and the resumption of trade depends on China. However, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has announced that these cases do not mean that the Brazilian beef production chain is at risk.


The Brazilian Frozen Food Association (Abrafrigo) estimates that the latest decision of GACC will allow more than 100 tons of Brazilian beef to be released. When imports were suspended, the goods were already on their way to China.

It is reported that China is the main export market for Brazilian beef. Abrafrigo said that due to the embargo, Brazil’s beef exports in October fell 43% year-on-year to 108,600 tons.