New rules create more legal certainty for animal imports in Mercosur

Arquivo/ Sec. de Agricultura de São Paulo

Brazil now has new rules for the international trade in genetic material from equidae (such as horses), cattle and buffalo, in vivo and in vitro bovine embryos and swine semen. The measure, recently announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA), aims to ensure greater health security for Brazilian livestock and facilitate trade.

Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Mercosur associate members must now comply with new animal health requirements. Among the innovations is the possibility of issuing a single certificate for temporary importation of equines and their return to participate in events without reproductive purposes. According to the announcement, the measure represents a gain in agility without neglecting health security.

Brazil is a major player in the international trade of bovine genetic materials, both in the production of in vivo and in vitro (PIVE) embryos - the country is the world's largest producer and a household name in the use of PIVE in cattle. In Mercosur, animal health requirements only protected the importation of in vitro bovine embryos. From now on, both types are protected.

For the swine sector, the new standard brings an update of requirements for the import of frozen semen, the previous rules were in force for more than 15 years. The exporting country must prove that the genetic material is negative for foot-and-mouth disease and for the main diseases affecting the animal species involved.