Argentina suspends exports of poultry products due to avian flu – 03/01/2023 – Market

Argentina suspended the export of poultry products after the first case of avian flu was detected in a production center in the province of Rio Negro (south), informed the National Service of Health and Agro-Food Quality (Senasa).

Argentina “temporarily loses its disease-free status and suspends its exports of poultry products in compliance with international rules,” the statement said on Tuesday night (1st).

The Secretary of Agriculture of Argentina, Juan José Bahillo, stated that it was the “first confirmed case in a captive bird” that occurs in the country, he reported on Twitter, when indicating the establishment located in the city of Mainque (1,100 km southwest of Buenos Aires).

Senasa highlighted that production “for internal consumption will continue normally because the disease is not transmitted to humans through the consumption of chicken meat and eggs”. Thus, “those refrigerators that export will be able to sell their products on the domestic market”, she explained.

According to the latest report of the 177 notifications received of suspected cases, 25 cases of avian flu were confirmed in different parts of the country, but so far all corresponded to wild birds.

Bahillo indicated that biosecurity measures will be reinforced on the farms “to recover sanitary status as quickly as possible” and resume exports.

Sales of Argentine poultry products abroad represent around US$ 330 million per year (about R$ 1.7 billion) and are mainly destined for China.