JAKARTA - The world's largest meat exporter, Brazil, has suspended meat exports to its No. 1 customer -- China -- after confirming two "unusual" cases of mad cow disease at two domestic slaughterhouses, the Ministry of Agriculture said on Saturday, September 4. Reported by Antara, Sunday, September 5, the suspension is part of an animal health pact between China and Brazil, as well as being implemented to give China time to address the problem. The suspension takes effect immediately, the Health Ministry said. China will decide when to start accepting imports again, the ministry said. The suspension was a major blow to Brazilian breeders. More than half of Brazil's meat exports are bought by China and Hong Kong. The ministry said the two cases were identified at meat factories in the two states of Mato Grosso and Minas Gerais, and were the fourth and fifth "atypical" mad cow disease found in Brazil. for 23 years.
"Atypical" mad cow disease, the ministry said, developed spontaneously and had nothing to do with the consumption of contaminated food. Brazil has never encountered a "classic" case of mad cow disease, the state agency said. The two cases were confirmed on Friday (3/9) after the two samples were sent to the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) laboratory in Alberta, Canada, the ministry said. The ministry said that it poses no risk to human or animal health. The Brazilian government hopes that the suspension will be lifted soon. The country's influential agribusiness sector is one of the main drivers for the economy. China is Brazil's main trading partner and buys a large amount of its commodities.
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