Brazil fears bird flu vaccination will raise trade barriers

Brazil is not in favor of vaccination as a means of controlling bird flu because an immunization campaign will inevitably lead to trade barriers, an agriculture ministry director said on Monday.

The world’s largest exporter of poultry, Brazil, has confirmed five cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly called bird flu, in wild birds, including one in São João da Barra, Rio de Janeiro, but not on farms commercial.

“Currently, Brazil is HPAI-free. If our epidemiological status changes and we finally decide to vaccinate… we have a strong feeling that we will be subject to some trade barriers,” said Eduardo Cunha, the country’s representative at a meeting of the World Health Organization for Animal Health (WHO) in Paris and director of the animal health department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

Nearly $10 billion in chicken exports will be at risk if bird flu infects commercial farms in Brazil, which has taken on an increasing role in the world’s supply of poultry and eggs as importers ban chicken and turkey meat from countries in which the virus is circulating on their farms.

The severity of the current avian flu epidemic has led some governments to consider vaccinating poultry, but others, such as the United States, remain reluctant mainly due to the trade restrictions it entails.

Brazil exports poultry and poultry products to more than 130 countries, which would make negotiating with these importers to accept their vaccinated products “a major challenge,” said Cunha.

Source: Terra

Rose

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.