* Brazil has been forced to temporarily suspend all beef exports to China, after the agriculture ministry (Mapa) confirmed an atypical case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as 'mad cow' disease, in the state of Mato Grosso last week. The Mapa has assured that all sanitary measures have been taken to contain the disease, and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and importing countries have been officially notified. The case is an isolated incident and is of no danger to the human population, and the OIE continues to consider Brazil mad cow disease free. However, under the terms of a 2015 bilateral health protocol, Brazil has had to suspend the issuance of sanitary certificates for beef exports to China until Chinese authorities conclude an evaluation of the situation. According to the Brazilian association of meat exporters (Abiec), China received 17.9% of Brazil’s total beef exports between January and April 2019, totalling a value of US$442.4m.
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