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Chinese sanitary decision ends restrictions, strengthens Brazilian livestock, and paves the way for new trade negotiations with national proteins
A decision awaited by the Brazilian agribusiness was confirmed by the Chinese authorities, placing the country in a new sanitary position before the largest Asian market. China recognized Brazil as a country free of foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination, according to a joint statement from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China (Mara). The document, dated May 29, 2026, lifts the ban related to foot-and-mouth disease in northern Brazil and recognizes the entire national territory as free of the disease. The Brazilian government was informed in the early hours of June 2, 2026, according to Broadcast Agro, a news service of Grupo Estado.
Chinese recognition ends sanitary restriction
The measure represents a significant advance for the trade of Brazilian proteins, as it removes a sanitary barrier that limited part of the negotiations with China. The recognition also reinforces the credibility of the Brazilian agricultural defense system, especially since the country had been seeking this validation since it received, in June 2025, the status of territory free of foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination by the World Organization for Animal Health (OMSA). From this new scenario, Brazil gains better conditions to negotiate products that depend on this sanitary recognition.
Brazilian mission reinforced request in May
The Brazilian demand was reinforced during a recent mission by the Minister of Agriculture, André de Paula, to China, in May 2026. The topic was also part of the set of compensatory measures for the safeguard of beef claimed by the Brazilian government. With the Chinese confirmation, the country now has more strength to advance in bilateral negotiations related to pig farming and cattle raising. This movement gains weight because China plays a central role in Brazilian meat exports.
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New negotiations involve bone-in meat and offal
The recognition paves the way for discussions on the entry of internal pork offal, such as liver and stomach, as well as bone-in beef, bovine offal, and bovine gallbladder stones, known as bile stones. These products require the status of free from foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination to advance in the Chinese market. The export of pork and external pork offal, such as feet and ears, currently restricted to Santa Catarina, may be immediately expanded to other states, upon request from slaughterhouses already authorized for foreign trade.
Export chain should feel practical effects
Industry sources state that the export of wet blue leather to China should also be facilitated, without the requirement of specific certificates. The beef export protocol signed between Brazil and China is expected to undergo review and update following the announcement. This measure adds to the Chinese recognition of Brazil as a country of negligible risk for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), known as mad cow disease, communicated by Chinese health authorities to the Brazilian government and anticipated by Broadcast Agro in February 2026.
Brazil gains momentum in the Chinese market
With the two sanitary recognitions, Brazil expands its negotiation capacity for bone-in meat, pork and bovine offal, and bovine gallbladder stones. China already holds a decisive position for the sector, as it was the main destination for Brazilian meats in 2025. According to data from Agrostat, the Brazilian agribusiness foreign trade statistics system, shipments totaled 2.057 million tons that year, with revenues of US$ 9.815 billion in sales of pork, beef, and chicken. How far can Brazil expand its presence in Asia’s largest protein consumer market?
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