Brazil eyes self-monitoring systems for meatpackers
If introduced, the self-monitoring system would be implemented gradually across various agricultural products and would eventually be available to Brazilian meatpackers.
The move is part of Brazil’s efforts to rebuild the reputation of meatpackers affected by the inspection scandal that significantly affected Brazilian exports.
According to Reuters, the scandal, which started in 2017 and was expanded last year, threatened about R$15bn in exports from Brazil’s protein industry, in markets ranging from China to Europe, which restricted shipments of meat pending a review of the South American nation’s inspection protocols.
Self-monitoring is widely used in the US and European markets, Reuters added.
Dias told Reuters that Brazilian processors were capable of monitoring themselves and its multinational companies already used self-monitoring at subsidiaries abroad.
"Why can't Brazil do self-monitoring when Europe and the United States use it?” said Dias. “Our agriculture sector can provide guarantees. Just because of one episode, we shouldn’t demonise Brazil’s food industry.”
The South American country has battled through a series of scandals over the past 18 months, including the rotten meat accusations and insider trading from brothers Wesley and Joesley Batista, formerly of JBS, which majorly disrupted its meat market.
Following the scandals, Brazil is starting to build bridges and regain the trust from international markets, after data from the Agribusiness Trade Balance revealed soaring export figures throughout November for its beef, with chicken meat also faring well.
