The audit, the first overseas trip after Brexit, examined the improved salmonella inspections in place for beef and beef products exported to Great Britain. The national competent authority of Brazil, six regional authorities, two decentralised certification centres, eight slaughterhouses, four other food industry operators, two farms, and four laboratories were all visited by an audit team.
The government of the UK concluded that Brazil had made significant progress in resolving “the systematic failings in the framework of controls and the application of those controls that led to the imposition of enhanced salmonella controls” in a report published by the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs.
It said changes to legislation and a restructuring of the competent authorities had strengthened the regulatory oversight of exports and had clarified accountabilities.
Restored approval systems
It indicates that the UK has resumed existing approval mechanisms after ending intensified checks of Brazilian beef shipments. Therefore, expanded pre- and post-import testing for salmonella as well as the additional attestation attached to health certificates certifying salmonella sample, methods of analysis, and findings are no longer required for the export of poultry meat and beef products from Brazil.
Brazil sold chicken worth US$282.2 million to the UK last year. Since Brexit, Brazilian agricultural exports to the UK have increased by 67%, and they are expected to reach US$1.8 billion in 2022.
The report did offer several suggestions for enhancing food safety further, including delisting facilities, lab testing, emergency preparation, and salmonella controls. When cases of avian flu are discovered, the UK also declared that it would implement regional import restrictions. In other words, the UK won’t put a whole nationwide ban on poultry imports if some birds have avian influenza in a certain area
