Saudi, Chile Lift Brazil Poultry Ban as Canada Revives MERCOSUR Talks

Saudi Arabia and Chile have lifted bans on poultry from Brazil’s southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, according to Agriculture Ministry documents dated Aug. 14 seen by Reuters. The restrictions were imposed after Brazil’s first bird-flu case on a commercial farm in May. Chile said it will accept Brazilian fertile eggs, day-old chicks, fresh chicken and processed products produced after Aug. 9, and formally recognised the state as free of Newcastle disease. Brazilian meatpacker BRF, which cited the bans as a drag on second-quarter exports, welcomed the decision, although major buyers such as China are yet to reopen their markets. Separately, Brazil and Canada have begun what officials call a “constructive dialogue” on restarting stalled negotiations for a Canada-MERCOSUR free-trade agreement. A date for the formal relaunch has not been set, but Canada’s international trade minister is expected in Brasília later this month to advance the talks, Brazil’s foreign-trade secretary said.