Foot and mouth export losses are estimated to reach US$ 1.7 billion given the ban on Brazilian beef and pork in at least 50 countries, revealed Brazilian Minister of Agriculture Roberto Rodrigues before Congress.

"This year, we will be loosing somewhere around US$ 500 million", said Rodrigues addressing the Brazilian Senate Agriculture Committee where he was summoned to report on the FAM situation following an outbreak that has expanded to at least five southern states.

Rodrigues said those losses were expected in the coming six months, which is the extension of time the ban on Brazilian beef and pork would apply in most countries.

However the total contraction in overseas sales of beef would ultimately total US$ 1.1 billion and port, US$ 600 million.

Brazil was the world's leading beef exporter in 2004, with US$ 2.5 billion and the third exporter of pork.

The Minister also announced the federal government was granting US$ 15 million support to the two states which have suffered most the impact of FAM, Mato Grosso do Sul, where the outbreak was first reported, and Paraná.

So far eleven outbreaks have been confirmed in Mato Grosso do Sul and another four in Paraná, which borders with Paraguay and Argentina.

Argentina has declared a state of sanitary alert in the northern provinces bordering with Brazil to prevent FAM from expanding south.

Further to the south, and to avoid surprises, Uruguay which borders with the state of Rio Grande do Sul, has imposed strict controls along the border, and Army armed patrols on horse back support the Customs and Animal Health teams.

This article appeared originally in Mercopress – www.mercopress.com.

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