Three More Countries Suspend Meat Imports From BrazilBritain, Saudi Arabia and Russia decided on Thursday to suspend imports of Brazilian meat after two foot-and-mouth disease hot spots have been detected in Brazil's state of Rio Grande do Sul, local media reported on Friday.Thus the number of countries that stopped buying Brazilian meat comes to five in less than 24 hours. On Wednesday, Israel and Chile decided to stop meat imports from Brazil for the same reason. Local press said Britain and Saudi Arabia have temporarily canceled the purchases of all meat products from Brazil, while Russia ceases the imports of meat only from Rio Grande do Sul. More countries are reportedly thinking of suspending meat imports from the South American country. Eleven animals were found affected by foot-and-mouth disease last Saturday in Rio Grande do Sul, and on Thursday a second cattle farm in the state was confirmed with the epidemic, though a massive vaccination campaign has been launched in the state since Wednesday. The state's farmers and rural trade union members blamed Agriculture Minister Pratini de Moraes for the new outbreak, arguing that there was a 60-day delay in the distribution of 4.5 million vaccines. |
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