NAN-F-38
Meat
Beijing, March 23, 2017 (dpa/NAN) Chinese concerns about the quality of Brazilian meat led to the recent decision to temporarily halt import from the country, China’s Commerce Ministry said on Thursday.
“As the largest importer of meat from Brazil, China expresses concerns about the quality of Brazilian meat.
“Chinese authorities have taken temporary measures in a timely manner,” Commerce Ministry spokesman Sun Jiwen said.
According to the reports, Ships carrying meat from Brazil are stranded outside Chinese ports, and Chinese supermarkets have started pulling Brazilian red meat and poultry from their shelves.
Brazilian authorities announced last week that they were investigating evidence that government officials had been taking bribe to allow for the sale of spoiled meat.
Twenty-one meat processing plants were being investigated, and 30 officials had been suspended, the Brazilian government said.
Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of beef and chicken.
The European Union, South Korea and Chile have also suspended meat import from the country. (dpa/NAN)
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Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Abdullahi Yusuf