Brazil Meat Scandal Is Called ‘a Punch in the Stomach’
By DOM PHILLIPSMARCH 22, 2017
RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil’s meat industry has taken "a punch in the stomach," with exports plummeting in the
wake of a corruption scandal over safety standards, the country’s agriculture minister said on Wednesday.
Paulo Baía, a professor of political science at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, said the government was
beginning to get on top of a "serious crisis." "Things have only become clear in the last two days," he said.
South Africa and Egypt banned imports from Brazilian meatpacking companies named in the scandal, the G1 news site reported, joining at least six other nations — including China, Japan
and Mexico — and the European Union in announcing restrictions.
In a statement to the World Trade Organization on Wednesday, the government said, "The standards of excellence of our products are among the best in the world." Of 2,300 inspectors, just 33 are being investigated,
and of nearly 5,000 meatpacking plants, only 21 are under suspicion, the statement said.
Brazilian meat export sales on March 21 fell to just $74,000, compared with a daily average for March of $63 million, commerce officials said.
Agriculture makes up almost a quarter of the economy, and the country was already reeling from a crippling recession; huge corruption scandals
that have tainted many politicians, including ministers in President Michel Temer’s unpopular government; and the impeachment of his predecessor, Dilma Rousseff.