Supply tightens amid Brazil beef ban

Marts: The timing and outcome of inspection of beef-producing farms in Brazil by the EU Food and Veterinary Organisation holds one of the critical keys to the impact of the ban on delivering higher returns to producers in this country.

It is now expected that the FVO inspection mission in Brazil will not take place until near the end of February, following which they will have to submit their report for consideration by the EU authorities before any decision on the lifting of the ban is made.

This could mean mid-March at the earliest before exports from Brazil resume, but industry sources maintain that supplies which had left Brazil before the ban took effect last Friday will continue to supply EU markets over the coming weeks.