Pakistan green light import of live cattle from Brazil

• Brazil also received the green light to export tilapia fish to the Philippines.
• Brazil exported a total of nearly $489 million in live cattle last year.
• Pakistan’s imports from Brazil last year reached $298 million.

SAO PAULO: Brazil said on Wednesday it had received approval this week from Pakistan to export live cattle to the South Asian country, as well as cow embryos and semen.

Brazil’s agriculture ministry said in a statement that it also received the green light to export tilapia juveniles to the Philippines.

Brazil exported a total of nearly $489 million in live cattle last year, up 154% from 2022.

Pakistan’s imports from Brazil last year totaled $298 million, mostly from products such as fibers and textiles, the ministry said, while the Philippines imported $918 million, with meat proteins accounting for more than three-quarters.

Overall, the South American nation exported nearly $340 billion worth of goods in 2023, mostly to China, which bought nearly $106 billion worth, according to government data earlier this month.

In April last year, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Wednesday approved the proposed amendments to the relevant clauses of the IPO-2022.

The Ministry of Commerce has submitted a summary of the amendments to the Import Policy Order-2022 regarding the import of live animals and animal products under the revised World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) conditions/guidelines for trade in animals (Cattle).

In September 2023, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tightened its rules for importing meat from Pakistan after receiving complaints of substandard shipments from the country.

The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said in a notification dated September 19, 2023, that it will only allow fresh or chilled meat from Pakistan that is vacuum packed or modified atmosphere and has a shelf life of 60 to 120 days from the date of slaughter.

The new restrictions apply to all other types of packaged fresh or chilled meat that are not allowed to be imported from Pakistan by sea, the notification said.