Development: On 13 October Dr José Naranjo, the director of the epidemiology department at the World Health Organization’s Panamerican Foot and Mouth (FMD) centre (Panaftosa), said Paraguay’s response to the recent FMD outbreak had been adequate.
Significance: Panaftosa’s “satisfaction” with the Paraguayan response bodes well for local producers, who are eager to start re-exporting beef, Paraguay’s fourth largest export. Some regional customers have already granted permission for the entry of containers of Paraguayan meat processed before the outbreak. Paraguay’s main beef export destination, Russia, has yet to give the green light. Today (14 October), three technicians from Russia’s animal health organisation (Rosselkhznadzor) arrive in Paraguay to inspect several meat packaging plants to ensure they comply with Russian sanitation standards before allowing the resumption of exports.
Key points:
• “The Russians’ objective is to check sanitary and traceability guarantees, so as to re-start, as soon as possible, exports of meat to that great country”, stated Dr Daniel Rojas López, head of Paraguay’s animal health organisation (Senacsa).
• Argentina has already lifted a ban on the sale and transport of Paraguayan hides and chewable toys for dogs. Uruguay and Argentina are considering the resumption of beef imports from Paraguay ahead of the end of Paraguay’s self-imposed 60-day export ban (announced on 19 September). They would also allow Paraguayan meat shipments to transit through local ports, en route to other destinations.
