Minister Fávaro strengthens Brazil-Japan ties in trade talks

The Brazilian Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Carlos Fávaro, met with Japan’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, Taku Eto, to explore new opportunities for cooperation and enhance bilateral trade. 

During the talks, Minister Taku Eto confirmed Japan’s approval of regionalizing Brazil’s International Sanitary Certificate (ISC) for avian influenza at the municipal level. This decision limits export restrictions on poultry and egg products to only those municipalities affected by outbreaks, rather than entire states, ensuring smoother trade flows. 

“This measure provides greater security and predictability for Brazilian poultry exports to Japan, benefiting producers and strengthening trade relations between our countries,” stated Minister Fávaro. 

Brazil continues to lead as the world’s top poultry exporter, commanding 35% of the global market. 

The meeting also secured a commitment for Japanese animal health specialists to visit Brazil soon. This inspection will assess the country’s sanitary controls, a crucial move toward opening Japan’s market to Brazilian beef and expanding pork access beyond Paraná, the only state currently approved. 

Additionally, the ministers signed a letter of intent to deepen collaboration on restoring Brazil’s degraded pastures. This aligns with the National Program for the Conversion of Degraded Pastures into Sustainable Agricultural and Forestry Production Systems (PNCPD), aiming to enhance productivity and sustainability. The agreement outlines joint efforts, leveraging soil treatments and biostimulants through public-private partnerships in both nations. 

“With a goal of restoring up to 40 million hectares of pasture, our program aims to double production without cutting down a single tree in the Cerrado or the rainforest,” emphasized Fávaro. 

The partnership between Brazil and Japan reinforces global food security and sustainability in agricultural production, promoting knowledge exchange and the adoption of best practices across the sector.