The Government of Cuba has decided to lift the restrictions on the importation of chicken meat from Brazil.
This measure represents a crucial decision amid a delicate food situation for the island, where chicken is one of the most sought-after products by the population and is essential for both state supply and private sales.
The decision is part of a coordinated movement by seven countries -Argentina, United Arab Emirates, Philippines, India, Mauritania, Uruguay, and Cuba itself- that have chosen to resume their purchases of Brazilian poultry after a temporary suspension related to avian influenza, as revealed recently by the agency EFE.
This reactivation of trade relations -also announced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil- comes after weeks of health review by Brazilian authorities, who certified the control of the outbreak detected on a commercial farm in Montenegro, in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Context of the outbreak and measures adopted
The avian flu case in Brazil served as an international alarm, due to the country's large export scale, being a world leader in chicken sales.
In response, Brazil activated its biosecurity protocols, including mandatory quarantines, preventive suspensions of exports, and the review of International Sanitary Certificates (ISC) agreed upon with over 40 countries.
Although the restrictions imposed varied by destination—some countries limited imports to specific regions such as the state of Rio Grande do Sul, while others completely suspended purchases—the immediate result was a halt in poultry trade with many of the major importing nations.
Cuba was among the group that had restricted imports from specific regions, such as the state of Rio Grande do Sul, as clarified by the Ministry of Agriculture of that country at the end of June.
However, thanks to the strict adherence to international standards, the Brazilian government once again declared the country as: “Free from avian influenza.”
This recognition was crucial for countries like Cuba to reconsider their restrictions.
Relevance of Brazilian chicken for Cuba
For Cuba, this reopening holds fundamental significance.
Chicken is one of the main sources of protein for the Cuban population, which faces severe limitations in accessing basic food.
The scarcity in markets and logistical difficulties have made foreign trade a vital tool for sustaining the national diet.
Brazil, along with the United States, has traditionally been one of the main suppliers of poultry meat to the island.
In 2024, for example, U.S. poultry exports to Cuba exceeded 300 million dollars, while Brazilian chicken has supplemented that supply, especially as relations between Cuba and the U.S. have become strained.
With this reopening, it is expected that pressure on the local supply will ease, allowing for greater availability in both state and private markets.
The resumption of imports by Cuba takes place within a broader context of revitalization of Brazilian trade.
With these seven new reintegrations, 24 countries have resumed chicken meat purchases from Brazil since the end of June. Among them are Japan, Egypt, the Dominican Republic, and Vietnam.
Despite this, restrictions persist from relevant blocs such as China, the European Union, Canada, Chile, and Peru. Additionally, nearly thirty countries maintain targeted measures that exclusively limit exports from Rio Grande do Sul or areas near the avian flu outbreak.
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