BRAZIL has confirmed it is investigating another possible atypical case of Bovine Spongy Encephalopothy (BSE), detected in a seven-year-old beef cow in the northern state of Pará.

Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed that the investigation is underway, with laboratory test results expected later this week. As at this afternoon, there was no case report yet posted on the World Organisation for Animal Health website.

“Based on the result, the appropriate actions will be applied immediately,” the Brazilian Government said in a brief statement.

Brazil last confirmed two atypical cases of BSE in mid-September 2021, and another in 2019.

Following confirmation of the 2021 cases, Brazil voluntarily suspended its exports to China in line with its China market access protocol. Exports to China did not resume until December that year, with trade momentum only building in January 2022.

China accounted for 55 percent of Brazil’s total beef export volume in 2022, accounting for 1.24 million tonnes. In December, Brazil held 50pc of China’s imported beef market share, with other suppliers including Argentina (19pc), Uruguay (10pc) the United States (6pc) and Australia (5pc).

Brazil’s other key beef export markets are the United States (likely to decline from April, when the ‘Other Country’ US quota is likely to be filled); the European Union; Egypt, Hong Kong, Chile, Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Israel and Saudi Arabia.