Brazil's Minister for Agriculture has confirmed, while in Beijing, that the Chinese government has lifted its embargo on beef imports from Brazil.
It has been four weeks since Brazil suspended its beef exports to China after discovering an atypical case of mad cow disease, otherwise known as BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy).
Following a meeting with Chinese Customs, Carlos Fávaro said in a statement: "I am sure this is a step for Brazil to advance more and more with the accreditation of plants and opportunities for Brazilian livestock".
In a statement from China's General Administration of Customs, it said after evaluation, "Brazil's mad cow disease prevention and control system complies with China's relevant quarantine and health requirements, and it is decided to allow Brazil to resume exporting deboned beef under 30 months of age to China from March 23".
According to Reuters, some of Brazil's largest beef processors were losing up to $US25 million a day during the trade ban.
The last time there was a BSE outbreak in Brazil, it triggered a suspension of trade with China that lasted three months.
Simon Quilty from Global Agritrends says not only has the embargo been lifted on Brazilian beef, but an extra six Brazilian abattoirs have been given permission to export to China.
"This brings the total number of Brazilian plants able to export to China to 40," he said.
Mr Quilty says the announcement is a result of two issues being at play.
"Firstly, China's concern about food security over the next five to 10 years and, secondly, a growing co-dependence between China and Brazil," he said.
According to Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), China has been Australia's third biggest customer for beef in 2023, importing more than 23,000 tonnes in January and February.
MLA's beef export data for March, when the majority of the Brazilian ban took place, is not yet available.
China's appetite for beef tipped to rise
China imported a record amount of beef in 2022, buying more than 2.6 million tonnes from around the world.
Rabobank analyst Angus Gidley-Baird says China's beef consumption is expected to continue rising in 2023.
"The relaxation of COVID restrictions, we believe, will lead to consumers in China becoming a bit more active," he said.
"Brazil is the major supplier and sent 1.1 million tonnes to China last year, which is the biggest protein trade in the world.
"So both parties [China and Brazil] can't really afford to have that trade suspended for a long period of time."
