Live Export

Live cattle exports from Brazil suspended

Beef Central, 05/02/2018

A Brazilian judge has ordered the temporary suspension of the export of live cattle from Brazil, following a campaign against the trade by animal rights group, the National Forum for the Defense and Protection of Animals.

Federal Judge Djalma Moreira Gomes is reported to have issued a court order granting an injunction by the group, which sought to prevent a shipment of cattle aboard the MV Nada being exported from the Port of Santos to Turkey on animal welfare grounds. A veterinary report had stated the animals were held in tiny and unhygienic spaces according to media reports.

The cattle – the number on board varies in reports from around 10,000 to 27,000 calves – were being exported by Minerva, Brazil’s largest cattle exporter and one of the country’s largest meat processors.

In his decision, reported by Brazilian media, Judge Djalma Moreira Gomes wrote he was accepting the petition “to prevent the export for slaughter of live animals, from throughout the national territory, until the destination country (Turkey) adopts slaughter practices in line with those of the Brazilian legal system.”

The decision reportedly amounts to a national suspension of all live cattle from Brazil, however there is some uncertainty as to whether a single judge had the authority to order a national suspension.

The judge said exports can only restart when “guarantees of adequate treatment are provided”.

Australia’s livestock export trade is watching the developments closely, particularly those companies with ships currently serving export runs from Brazil to markets in the Middle East and Europe.

Wellard Limited currently has one vessel in Brazil. However the exporter has no Brazilian cattle currently contracted for export.

Wellard advised the ASX of the Brazilian export suspension issue this morning.

“Wellard is monitoring the situation in Brazil. We’re hopeful this current issue will be resolved in the short term so Brazil can begin exporting cattle again. It is important to note that Wellard operates in multiple countries, so expects it would be able to mitigate the effect of a protracted suspension in Brazil should it occur. Wellard will talk to its clients regarding the sourcing of cattle from alternative supplier countries, should it become necessary to make up any shortfall from Brazil,” said Wellard Executive Director Operations Fred Troncone.

It is understood the Brazil suspension is being challenged by Minerva. At the time of sending out Beef Central’s daily news email today, marine  websites appeared to show the Nada was underway using its engine with Turkey listed as its destination. But it was not clear whether that meant it had been allowed to commence its journey to Turkey or was moving to anchor away from port.

Brazil exports about 400,000 cattle per year.

The Animal rights groups bringing the case said the decision represented an extremely important point in the history of Brazil’s protection and defense of animal.

“We hope that the export of live animals will be definitively banned,” Patrycia Sato, veterinary surgeon and animal welfare coordinator of Animal Forum, said in a statement.

“On the long trajectories traveled on the high seas, it is not possible to guarantee even the minimum animal welfare requirements, much less the standards set by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), which Brazil is a signatory of,” she said.

“We are acting against the export of live cattle since 2016, pointing out the various irregularities of this activity, so that it will not go unnoticed by Brazilians.”

The judge’s written decision also ordered the unloading of all the animals currently on the ship, as well as their return to the farms of origin, until the countries of destination commit themselves to due care and the extinction of cruel practices.

Brazilian animal rights groups have previously urged the Brazilian industry to adopt Australian-stype welfare standards, as reported by Beef Central last year.

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Comments

  1. Hugh R, 06/05/2019

    How are the countries of destination being supported with education and training to improve welfare of the live animals exported?
    Having had personal experience inside the Middle East – my own concern for Australia is to be seen as a privileged elitest, even arrogant society – like the time Indonesia suffered during the Joe Ludwig – Federal minister Agriculture Ban – suffering that resulted in communities who process paddock to plate in the same day – (no fridges)and no attempts for alternative sourcing before immediately cutting off supply by our Government .
    Indonesia found alternative sources of live supply – please confirm that they had quality systems in place that were audited ?

    Full names required for future comments please Hugh – as per our long-standing reader comment policy. Editor

  2. Eduardo Prado, 06/02/2018

    I must agree Michael, Brazil at this stage does not have a system like the Australian ESCAS, which is my understanding it was developed after the ban in 2011.

    As a friend of mine said, any country that want to play a role in live exports needs to be ahead of the game to prevent such disruptions in market access.

    And adding to my previous comment, MV Nada has been allowed to sail and is now on its way to Turkey, but new live export operations are still suspended.

    Apparently the suspension will cease once the destination countries come to an agreement with Brazilian authorities on the standard practices to slaughter of livestock.

    We should see more details in the media soon.

  3. Michael Bull, 05/02/2018

    THe same thing happened in Australia and plans were put in place by government for exporters to adopt and we are now the envy of the world for the regulations that are in place although some will argue it is arduous and expensive, but better than having no trade at all

  4. Eduardo Prado, 05/02/2018

    The decision has been ruled out by another judge (Marcondes Malerbi) during the weekend based on a few arguments.

    First, the judge who initially banned the nation wide ban could have not done so as his powers are only regional (Sao Paulo State).

    Furthermore, it has been stated that it’s illegal for a judge to order cargo (livestock for this matter) to be unloaded from a foreign vessel.

    Also, based on bio-security concerns, and animal welfare principles, the idea of unloading the cattle seemed irresponsible. Therefore Judge has authorized the journey to begin immediately. As of now (Monday morning QLD time, MV Nava still is at Santos Port on Marine Traffic website.

    I really hope Brazil does not suffer as Australia did in 2011 and the live export industry can thrive worldwide supplying food for countries in need and also serving as another marketing channel for livestock producers.

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