Brazil beef ban could stay

IT now appears unlikely that the restrictions on exports of beef from Brazil to the EU will be lifted before the end of 2007 at the earliest because of the ongoing concern over foot-and-mouth controls in the excluded states.

The EU inspectorate has completed a visit to Brazil to assess the situation, and while its official report is awaited, it is expected that the lifting of the restrictions on imports from Brazil will not be recommended.

The inspection team is understood not to have been satisfied that adequate progress on foot and mouth has been made to alley concerns over exports from the regions under restriction to the EU.