This week Brazil and the United States will return to the negotiating table for talks at the Brazil-US Agriculture Consultive Committee in Washington. The committee was set up following a meeting by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and American George W. Bush in June 2003.
According to the head of the Brazilian delegation, the executive secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Amauri Dimarzio, at this meeting plant and animal sanitation will be at the top of the agenda.
The talks will deal with sanitation questions surrounding Brazilian exports of in natura beef and chicken, pork, fruits (especially papaya and mangoes) and fruit juices and coconuts.
The Americans are interested in resolving similar problems with their exports of wheat and genetic material (mainly goats and sheep). Both countries have expressed a desire to harmonize their sanitation norms.
“We intend to show the committee that Brazil has made progress in plant and animal sanitation. We have done our homework well and believe there is a good possibility we can sell more to the American market,” said Dimarzio.
The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture’s official added that Brazil is investing more and more in animal and plant sanitation so as to increase the quality and competitivity of its farm produce exports.
Translator: Allen Bennett