Lula celebrates Brazil’s certification as free of foot-and-mouth disease: “There is more of the world for us to win”

"We have more of the world to win." The statement, made this Friday, June 6, by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Paris, represents a status that Brazilian producers have been waiting for six decades: the certification of Brazil as a country free of foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination. The document was presented to President Lula and the Brazilian Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (Agricultura e Pecuária /MAPA), Carlos Fávaro, by the director of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOHA), Emmanuelle Soubeyran. With this status, Brazil—the world’s largest exporter of animal protein—can further expand its exports and strengthen its leading role in the sector.

It is the recognition of a country that has in agribusiness and livestock farming one of its most important economic pillars. It is an acknowledgment of the strength and reliability of our agricultural and livestock health system"

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of the Republic of Brazil

"It is the recognition of a country that has in agribusiness and livestock farming one of its most important economic pillars. This certificate is an acknowledgment of the strength and reliability of our agricultural and livestock health system. Even without vaccination, it has been demonstrated that foot-and-mouth disease does not circulate in our country. And it is up to us to ensure that it does not return to our territory," stated President Lula.

According to the director of the World Organisation for Animal Health, the certification represents a historic milestone for Brazil. “It is an honor and a privilege to be here before you today to celebrate this day. Brazil is ready to move forward. This achievement is the result of extensive planning,” said Soubeyran. She noted that “this day began in 1998,” when the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina were recognized as the first foot-and-mouth disease-free zones.

SANITARY SYSTEM – According to Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Carlos Fávaro, the country has made significant progress in recent years in strengthening its sanitary system, which allowed Brazil to be awarded this certification. “Brazil has been advancing in sustainability, producing with respect for social and environmental standards. More recently, as a result of hard work, investment, and strong partnerships, we have made great steps in sanitary matters. No country in the world has a sanitary system as efficient and robust as the Brazilian country,” stated the minister.

DECADES – Fávaro recalled Brazil’s long journey before arriving in Paris to be certified as free of foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination. “For more than 60 years, Brazil has been fighting this disease. There have been numerous campaigns and partnerships with the private sector, representative entities, states, municipalities, and neighboring countries. Brazil played a leading role — reaching agreements with Bolivia, Paraguay, Colombia, Venezuela, and Guyana, and distributing vaccines. This was essential because obtaining this certificate today would be meaningless if there were active foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in neighboring countries,” the minister emphasized.

FOOD SECURITY – The ceremony included the participation of the presidents of the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (Associação Brasileira de Proteína Animal/ABPA), Ricardo Santin, and the Brazilian Association of Meat Exporting Industries (Associação Brasileira das Indústrias Exportadoras de Carne/ABIEC), Roberto Perosa. Both highlighted the importance of the certification and the opportunities it brings to the sector. “This will be reversed into revenue on the trade balance. It is gratifying to witness this moment of a strong Brazil, one that increasingly wants to show the world that it will not relinquish its responsibility for global food security,” Santin stated.

EXPORTS – ABIEC President Roberto Perosa reinforced a figure that highlights Brazil’s strength in the protein market. “We exported 3 million tons last year, but the main market for Brazilian beef is Brazil itself. We keep 70% of production within the country and export the surplus. With this certification, it will be possible to expand our markets,” he noted. 

THE DISEASE – Foot-and-mouth disease is an acute infectious illness that causes fever, followed by the appearance of vesicles (sores), primarily in the mouths and hooves of cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, buffalo, goats, sheep, and pigs. It is caused by a virus that can spread rapidly if control and eradication measures are not promptly implemented after detection.

AGENDA – The certification ceremony was President Lula’s third engagement on Friday, the second day of his official schedule in France. Earlier, he visited Brazilian artist Ernesto Neto’s exhibition, “Nosso Barco Tambor Terra,” at the Grand Palais, accompanied by President Emmanuel Macron, and received an honorary doctorate from Paris 8 University.

RECEPTION – The State visit began on Thursday, June 5, with an official reception at the Esplanade des Invalides, followed by a bilateral meeting with President Emmanuel Macron and a joint press statement at the Élysée Palace. In the afternoon, Lula received an honor from the French Academy, held a meeting with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, and spoke with members of the Brazilian community in France. Early in the evening, he attended a State dinner hosted by the French government and witnessed the Eiffel Tower being illuminated in Brazil’s colors, as a tribute to the presence of the national delegation in France.

RESUMPTION – Lula’s visit is the first by a Brazilian head of State to France in 13 years and is part of a broad process of resuming relations between the two nations, which began in 2023 and was highlighted by Macron’s visit to Brazil last year. This is President Lula’s third State visit to France. The previous visits took place in 2005, during Jacques Chirac’s presidency, and in 2009, under Nicolas Sarkozy’s administration.