September 24, 2013
Chile to resume beef exports to EU
By the end of this month, Chile is expected to resume exports of fresh beef to the EU, according to industry sources.
"EU beef importers wereeager to resume the trade, so we welcome resumption of the certification for Chilean beefexports", said Jean-Luc Mériaux, secretary general of the European Livestock and Meat Trading Union (UECBV).
After a scheduled European Commission Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) inspection, Chile suspended fresh beef exports to the EU on March 27. The FVO highlighted several issues, including deficiencies in control procedures and enforcement, and evidence of cattle having received phenylbutazone, or ''bute'', while treatment of EU eligible bovine animals did ''not seem to be considered a risk factor for targeting sampling for ''bute''.
The FVO has raised some issues such as the implementation of the system to approve establishments listed for export to the EU. These were reported to possesslapses on the part ofcompetent authorities.
Among FVO''s recommendations were that Chile should improve official controls carried out at establishment level. Drug withdrawal periods should be sufficiently long to guarantee the absence of detectable residues in meat. Also,testing for residues of such substances (such as phenylbutazone) should be included in the scope of Chile''s residue monitoring plan.
Chile responded in June with a list of actionswhich it had or was taking. A small number of Chilean farms were approved to export fresh beef to the EU, but more could soon be added.
Mériaux expected Chile would honour its pledge to provide information to comply with provisions of the EU High Quality Beef quota. Chile has a great reputation for efficiency, he said.