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Japan closer to allowing imports of Brazilian beef
A Japanese team will arrive in Brazil this month to inspect the states of Santa Catarina, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul, confirmed Fávaro
The opening of the Japanese market to Brazilian beef appears imminent, as a Japanese government delegation plans to visit Brazil this month to carry out a final audit of local slaughterhouses. Negotiations gained significant momentum after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s visit to Tokyo in March.
Brazilian Agriculture Minister Carlos Fávaro confirmed the news, stating: “They are now coming to do an audit in November, and with this final audit of the meatpacking plants, I think the protocol will be ready and we should make an announcement by the end of this year.”
Access to the Japanese market is considered a cherished dream by the Brazilian agricultural sector, which has been seeking approval for more than 20 years. Japan is the world’s third largest importer of beef, with annual consumption of more than 700 thousand tons. This market is considered a key opportunity for Brazil to diversify its export destinations, especially following recent trade tensions related to US tariffs. Initial approval is expected to focus on Brazil’s southern states: Santa Catarina, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul, the first to achieve the coveted FMD-free zone status without vaccination, a strict health requirement mandated by Japan.
Although the entire Brazilian territory already has this status, the strategy is to obtain certification for these three states first. Japan is known for having some of the most stringent health requirements in the world and its 12-step approval process is meticulous. An application that covered all of Brazil at once could further delay the already slow process, which takes two decades.
The plan is to obtain certification for the three southern states and then progressively request the inclusion of the rest of the country, thus adapting to Japan’s rigorous state-by-state inspection procedure. Currently, 80% of Japan’s beef imports come from the United States and Australia.
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