. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/584 
5 July 2005 
 (05-2949) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
 
FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE FREE ZONE - BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE 
ON REGIONALIZATION 
 
Statement by Brazil at the meeting of 29-30 June 2005  
 
  The following communication, dated 1 July 2005,  is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Brazil. 
 
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1. By the end of 2004, Brazil had 4.2 million Km2,  which represents approximately 50 per cent 
of the national territory, recognized by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) as free of foot and mouth disease (FMD) with vaccination.  The Brazilian FMD-free zone comprises 75 per cent 
of the country’s total bovine farm s and 84 per cent of the bovine national population.  By the end of 
2004, the Brazilian FMD-free zone was composed of 15 states.  In May 2005, Brazil reached another 
important victory in its struggle against FMD:  the OIE International Committee, recognizing Brazil's 
serious efforts against FMD, approved the inclusion of the Acre State in the Brazilian FMD-free zone. 
2. Almost 40 years of Brazilian Government efforts against FMD made possible the results 
harvested today.  However, the great achievements were reached only after the effective mobilization 
of other sectors of the civil society.  In 1992, prof essionals of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock 
and Food Supply, the Agriculture Secretariat in the states, and members of the cattle breeding 
production chain, with the support of the Pa n-American Foot and Mouth Disease Center 
(PANAFTOSA), revised the strategies against FMD.  They adopted an eradication goal, supported by 
the strengthening of the veterinary surveillance syst em;  implementation of local veterinary units;  
registration of rural properties and animals;  compulsory vaccination every six months;  compulsory notification of any suspicion of FMD;  attenti ons to outbreaks;  sanitary slaughter in case of 
outbreaks;  and other measures related to surveillance of FMD. 
3. After a successful implementation of these measur es, Brazil obtained, in 1998, the recognition 
of its first FMD-free zone, comprised by the Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina states.  The 
cumulative knowledge and the continuous adaptati on of the regional protection systems made 
possible the gradual enlargement of the Brazilian FMD-free zone. 
4. Brazil's serious efforts resulted in the current , highly secured, FMD-free zones.  These have 
been established with huge protection areas ("bu ffer zones") based on natural and geographical 
barriers, official quarantine and animal move ment control, and a vaccination coverage of 
approximately 95 per cent of the whole country's cattle population. G/SPS/GEN/584 
Page 2  
 
 5. According to our experience, increasing ma rket access opportunities for FMD susceptible 
species and their products encourages the implementati on of FMD-free zones.   Considering this, it is 
uncontestable that enlargement of our FMD-free zo ne has contributed to improve exports of these 
products, despite political and economic factors.  Taking the exports of fresh bovine meat as an 
example, we found a direct correlation between the enlargement of the FMD-free zone and the 
increase in the number of importing countries.  The increase in the number of importing countries is 
also highly correlated to the increase of the amount (in weight) of fresh bovine meat exported. 
6. By the end of 1998, considering the OIE’s rec ognition of Brazil's first FMD-free zone with 
vaccination, the number of importing countries was 36.  In 2003, Brazil exported to 80 countries.  In 
2004, despite the fact that there wasn’t any enlargement of the FM D-free zone, an increase in the 
number of importing countries was noted.  Brazil now exports to 109 countries. 
7. However, in spite of the sanitary status of Brazilian cattle and the large number of importing 
countries that confirms this condition, only two of the seven major bovine fresh meat importers (which account for more than 50 per cent of th e world market) buy from Brazil.  Even these two 
countries that are open to Brazilian meat exports appl y trade restrictions related to FMD, including 
lack of harmonization of national requirements to inte rnational standards.  Considering the other five 
major importers, restrictions are related to th e lack of recognition of FMD-free areas where 
vaccination is practiced, delays in the publication of risk analysis and the establishment of importing 
requirements. 
8. It should be underlined that Brazil always fulf ills the OIE’s criteria fo r the establishment of 
FMD-free zones, including those related to vaccine  production, surveillance and quarantine actions.  
Therefore, one can draw the conclusion that the most important restriction for Brazil's exports of fresh 
bovine meat is still the lack of recognition of Br azil's FMD-free zone, established in accordance with 
OIE standards. 
9. Considering the difficulties for the recognition of FMD-free zones by other Members, Brazil 
is of the view that OIE standards s hould be observed by importing countries. 
10. The SPS Committee should accurately separate administrative procedures from the OIE 
scientific work.  Clear definitions supported by pr actical examples will help Members to distinguish 
between these.  The SPS Committee should focus its efforts in the production of guidelines to avoid 
undue delays related to administrative proce dures in the recognition of regionalization. 
 
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