Japan halts poultry imports from Brazil’s Santa Catarina state due to bird flu

Japan has ceased importing poultry products from the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina following the detection of avian flu in a local bird.

This action was reported by the Department of Inspection of Products of Animal Origin of the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, aimed at exporters eligible to send products to Japan.

This import suspension has been initiated by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAF).

They have stopped inspecting imports of live poultry, poultry meat, and egg products from Santa Catarina.

The Ministry has contacted the Brazilian office in Tokyo to update them about this development.

In correspondence to facilities under the Federal Inspection Service (SIF) authorized for export to Japan, the Ministry of Agriculture intended to engage with Japanese authorities for clarification and resolution.

The import halt is a response to a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak detected in a bird in Maracajá, as confirmed by the Ministry.

Before this, Japan had similarly suspended imports of poultry products from Espírito Santo following an identical situation.

The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) maintains that such incidents involving wild and backyard birds do not affect Brazil’s status as an HPAI-free country or its international poultry trade.

Santa Catarina, Brazil’s second-largest poultry producer, and exporter, is the most recent region affected by the import suspension.

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