ABPA went on record to say that the production chain generates 4.1 million direct and indirect jobs in Brazil. "Within BRF alone, there are more than 100,000 direct jobs. The poultry industry also makes one of the most important contributions to Brazil's positive trade balance by generating over US$7 billion in hard currency. For these reasons the Brazilian government needs to—and intends to—clarify the issue as rapidly as possible."
The spokesperson stressed the importance that the country also needs to be treated fairly in this situation.
"Brazil cannot give in to threats that jeopardize thousands of jobs and companies in ABPA's poultry industry. Brazil has been a partner to the European Union for many years, exporting more than five million tonnes of chicken meat in the last ten years alone. No public health issues affecting Brazilian meat have ever been reported. There are, therefore, no substantive reasons for imposing embargoes upon any company from the poultry sector, especially when the issues at stake have been corrected and now lie in the past.
"Over four decades we have shipped more than 60 million tonnes of chicken meat in more than 2.4 million containers to 203 countries. In fact the first container was sent by Sadia, one of BRF's brands. Over time Brazil's poultry industry has built up a respectable track record backed up by the preservation of its sanitary status and by the quality of its products."
The ABPA added that the BRF situation involves classification criteria rather than an issue that could practically be a risk to public health.
"It is also worth clarifying that the whole question stems from divergences relating to classification criteria for Salmonella spp in exported products, and in practical terms do not jeopardize public health."