China is blocking meat imports from Brazil until the nation can provide more information about an investigation into a bribery scheme to release sanitary licenses for meat products. Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture agreed to provide all requested information, according to meat industry publication Meatingplace. China was the only country to officially communicate with the Brazilian government about the investigations. The move comes after an investigation that started last week into the bribery scheme. Brazil closed three meat packing plants and removed 33 public employees from their jobs. The investigation includes meatpacking plants owned by JBS and BRF. The Brazilian government and representatives of the meat industry in Brazil have said the processing facilities investigated by federal police represent only a very small part of the country’s meat industry. Only 21 meat processing plants out near 5,000 units subjected to federal inspection in Brazil have been cited in the investigation, according to the federal government.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting news service.