Brazilian Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina Dias said on Tuesday China will soon lift a ban on imports of Brazilian beef imposed on Monday after a case of suspected atypical mad cow disease was detected in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, Reuters reports.
The news agency quotes Ms Dias as saying China will lift its suspension of imports of beef from Brazil after the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) finishes its investigation of the case.
“The OIE has already finalized the process; it began and finished without any additional requests,” she said. “We are waiting on China in the next few days to request that the suspension be lifted,” Ms Dias said.
China is the biggest importer of Brazilian beef, buying US$1.5 billion worth last year, Reuters says.
