End of Qatari restrictions on Brazilian beef imports due to atypical BSE case in Pará – Joint MRE and MAPA press release

The Brazilian government expresses its satisfaction with the announcement on May 29th regarding the lifting of restrictions on Brazilian beef imports by Qatar, which were imposed due to an isolated case of atypical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in the state of Pará.

The announcement, along with the recent reopening of markets in Tunisia, Palestine. and Russia, represents the full normalization of trade in the product with Qatar.

Unlike the classic form of the disease, commonly known as "mad cow disease", the atypical form occurs naturally and spontaneously in cattle herds. It does not pose a risk to public health, nor does it justify restrictions on imports, according to the guidelines of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).

Following the occurrence of the atypical BSE case, Qatar had included Brazil on the list of precautionary measures on 03/05/2023, subjecting the Brazilian beef to restrictive conditions.

In 2022, beef exports to Qatar reached $36.9 million, equivalent to 6,000 tons of the product. In the first quarter of 2023, the trade flow between Brazil and Qatar amounted to $231.6 million, with animal protein exports accounting for approximately 75% of Brazil's total exports to Qatar during this period.