On Wednesday, Brazil announced that it has received approval from Pakistan to export live cattle, as well as cow embryos and semen to the South Asian country. Additionally, Brazil obtained permission to export young tilapia fish to the Philippines, according to a statement from Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry.
Last year, Brazil’s live cattle exports reached nearly $489 million, marking a significant increase of 154% compared to 2022. Pakistan’s imports from Brazil in 2023 amounted to $298 million, primarily consisting of fibers and textiles, while the Philippines imported goods worth $918 million, with meat proteins accounting for over three-quarters of the total.
In 2023, Brazil’s overall exports totaled almost $340 billion, with China being the main recipient, purchasing nearly $106 billion worth of Brazilian products, as reported by government data earlier in the month.
In April of the previous year, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) approved proposed amendments to relevant clauses of IPO-2022, focusing on changes related to the import of live animals and animal products in accordance with the updated conditions and guidelines set by the World Organization of Animal Health (WOAH) for cattle trade.
In September 2023, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) implemented stricter rules for importing meat from Pakistan due to reported concerns about substandard shipments. The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment specified that only vacuum-packed or modified-atmosphere packed fresh or chilled meat from Pakistan, with a shelf life of 60 to 120 days from the slaughtering date, would be allowed. The new restrictions excluded other types of packaged fresh or chilled meat from being imported from Pakistan by sea, as stated in the notification dated September 19, 2023.
