Avian flu: Brazil suspends chicken exports to Argentina, China, and the EU

Brazil has suspended chicken exports to China, the European Union (EU), and Argentina following the identification of an initial outbreak of avian flu on a commercial farm, the government announced Friday.

An outbreak of highly pathogenic influenza (HPAI) was detected in a poultry farm in Montenegro, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (south), according to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, which clarified that "the disease is not transmitted by the consumption of poultry or eggs ."

In addition to China and the EU, Argentine health authorities announced the suspension of imports of Brazilian chicken until the neighboring country is declared free of avian flu.

"Starting today, for 60 days, China will not be buying Brazilian chicken meat," Brazilian Agriculture Minister Carlos Fávaro told reporters.

In a subsequent statement, the ministry explained that "in order to respect the agreements signed with China and the European Union, exports are restricted throughout the country."

Agricultural authorities confirmed that measures to contain and eradicate the outbreak are already underway.

A question of "protocols"

Brazil is the world's leading exporter of chicken meat, and China is its main destination, with more than 562,000 tons shipped in 2024, representing 10.89% of the total exported, according to data from the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA).

Both countries maintain a strategic trade partnership, although asymmetrical in favor of the Asian power.

China is Brazil's largest trading partner and the main destination for its exports, while Brazil is China's ninth largest trading partner and the largest source of its agricultural imports.

The European Union , for its part, purchased more than 231,000 tons of Brazilian chicken meat last year, representing 4.49% of these exports to Brazil.

The minister explained that with China and the EU, the decision responds to a protocol for automatically suspending imports in this type of situation, while in other countries these restrictions are limited to products from the affected region.

"The Brazilian system is so reliable and efficient that several countries changed their protocols because they know Brazil knows how to contain the virus. That's why trade restrictions remain in place only in the region where the outbreak is occurring. Some countries, such as China, didn't change their protocol," Fávaro said.

In Rio Grande do Sul, measures were implemented to "isolate and eliminate the outbreak," Governor Eduardo Leite said on his X account, insisting that the population "can continue eating" chicken and eggs "in complete safety."