. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/922 
13 May 2009 
 (09-2361) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
INFORMATION ON THE OUTBREAKS OF A/H1N1 HUMAN INFLUENZA VIRUS  
 
Communication from Brazil
 
  
 The following communication, received on 12 May 2009, is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegation of Brazil
. 
 
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1. The Government of Brazil confirmed on 7 May 2009, four (4) cases of the new influenza 
virus named A/H1N1 in the country:  two patients in the state of São Paulo, one in Rio de Janeiro and another in Minas Gerais.  All patients were infect ed abroad.  They were immediately isolated in 
Brazilian hospitals.  Since the outbreak of avian influe nza, some years ago, that did not reach Brazil, 
the Government has developed its own Preparation Pl an for a Pandemic Influenza, which was put into 
practice since the WHO notified the first case of influenza A/H1N1. 
2. Swine meat and by-products in the country are entirely produced and processed under an 
integrated system, which reduces the risks of contam ination and spread of the virus.  There is no 
epidemiological link between human infection by A/H1N1 and swine farms.  The Government has 
adopted additional measures so as to prevent an y contamination of Brazilian animal and meat 
production establishments, such as:  the enforcem ent of surveillance procedures concerning farm 
biosecurity;  the intensification of inspection vi sits to production plants;  the implementation of 
clinical inspection of farm workers who are in contact  with swine herds;  and the restriction of access 
to production facilities.  Due to those measures, the Brazilian Government can ensure all Members 
that it is completely safe to consume swine produc ts certified by the Brazilian Inspection System of 
Animal Origin Products. 
3. Brazil is highly concerned with the recent restric tions to international trade adopted by some 
countries due to the A/H1N1 epidemic outbreak. 
4. As soon as the first case of influenza A/H1N1 was announced, th ere was a series of 
misunderstandings concerning the new virus, which was incorrectly related to swine influenza.  
Although international organizations promptly r ecommended that Governments refrain from adopting 
restrictive measures, imports of swine meat and by-products were prohibited or limited by some 
countries. 
5. Since then, the international community has c onfirmed that there is no evidence that the 
A/H1N1 virus is transmitted by food and that, c onsequently, there is no justification for imposing 
restrictions on the trade of swine products.  Additio nally, it could not be proved that the outbreak of 
this new type of human virus was derived from infl uenza in pig herds.  Furthermore, on 7 May 2009, 
FAO, WHO and OIE released a joint document stati ng that influenza viruses are not known to be 
transmissible to people through the consumption of processed pork or other foods derived from pigs.  G/SPS/GEN/922 
Page 2  
 
  Heat treatments commonly used in cooking meat will readily inactivate any viruses potentially present 
in raw products. 
6. So as to fulfill their obligations under the SPS Agreement, Brazil deems it necessary that 
those Members which imposed sanitary restrictions related to influenza A/H1N1, immediately notify 
them to the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanita ry Measures.  Taking into account the provisions 
of Article 5.7 of the SPS Agreement, those Memb ers that consider the sci entific evidence presented 
by relevant international organizations insufficien t must present additional scientific information to 
justify the imposition of trade restrictions and revi ew their measures accordingly within a reasonable 
period of time. 
 
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