Strategic Expansion into Southeast Asia

Brazilian meatpacking giant JBS S.A. has unveiled plans to invest $100 million in building two state-of-the-art meat processing facilities in Vietnam, reinforcing its commitment to expanding operations in Southeast Asia and boosting global market reach.

First Facility: Northern Vietnam

The first plant will be located in the Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Park in Haiphong, northern Vietnam. This facility will feature:

• A logistics centre
• Cold storage units
• Pre-processing, cutting, and packaging lines

It will process beef, pork, and poultry, using raw materials imported from Brazil. The output will serve both Vietnam’s domestic market and regional export destinations.

Second Facility: Southern Vietnam

The second plant is scheduled to begin construction two years after the first becomes operational. It will mirror the infrastructure and capabilities of the Haiphong facility, further strengthening JBS’s footprint in the region.

Government Partnership and Economic Impact

The investment was formalised through a memorandum of understanding signed during Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s state visit to Vietnam. According to Renato Costa, president of JBS subsidiary Friboi, the initiative is designed to:

• Create approximately 500 skilled jobs
• Enhance food security across Southeast Asia
• Support technology transfer and workforce training

Costa emphasized that the project is not only about increasing production capacity but also about creating long-term value for Vietnam’s economy.

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Conclusion

JBS’s $100 million investment marks a significant milestone in the company’s global expansion strategy. By establishing two advanced meat processing plants in Vietnam, JBS aims to meet growing demand in Southeast Asia, foster local economic development, and strengthen its position as a leader in the international meat trade.

Original story: Vietnam Investment Review 

Abattoirs Hit by FSA Meat Charge Rise

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced a significant increase in meat inspection charges, set to take effect from 1 April 2025. This uplift is expected to add further financial strain on small and medium-sized abattoirs across the UK.

The hourly rates for official veterinarians (OVs) and meat hygiene inspectors (MHIs) visiting abattoirs will rise by 17.7% and 11.3%, respectively. The new rates will be £65.90 per hour for OVs and £43.20 per hour for MHIs. These charges apply to various approved meat premises, including slaughterhouses, cutting plants, and on-farm slaughtering facilities.

The FSA’s decision has sparked concern among industry leaders, who warn that the increased costs could lead to more abattoir closures, particularly affecting rural areas. The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has called for more support for local abattoirs, highlighting the risk of increased journey times for animals and higher operational costs.

The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) has also voiced strong opposition, describing the fee hikes as an “unjustified gouge” on the sector. AIMS has challenged the legitimacy of the charges, arguing that traditional meat inspection delivers no discernible food safety benefits.

With the number of abattoirs in the UK already in decline, the new charges could exacerbate the situation, reducing competition and consumer choice. Industry experts are urging the FSA to reconsider the fee increases and explore structural reforms to support the struggling meat industry.

Original story: NFU Online 

UK Bans Livestock Imports from Austria to Prevent Spread of Foot and Mouth Disease

The UK Government has announced a temporary ban on the commercial import of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, deer, and wild boar from Austria to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease (FMD). This precaution follows the confirmation of a new FMD case in Hungary, near the Austrian border.

Import Ban Expanded Amid FMD Outbreak in Europe

The import restrictions apply to live animals and untreated animal products such as fresh meat, dairy, and other raw goods. The ban now includes Austria, in addition to existing bans on imports from Hungary, Slovakia, and Germany.

The UK Chief Veterinary Officer has emphasised that while FMD poses no risk to human health or food safety, it is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, deer, wild boar, llamas, and alpacas.

Personal Imports Also Restricted

In addition to commercial imports, travellers are no longer permitted to bring the following items into Great Britain from Austria:

• Meat and meat products

• Milk and dairy products

• Animal by-products from pigs and ruminants

• Certain composite products

• Hay and straw

These restrictions match existing measures already in place for Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia.

Government Actions to Protect UK Livestock

Authorities are working closely with border control agencies and traders to manage the risk from any goods currently en route to Great Britain. Pre-notification and enhanced border checks are in place to prevent the entry of restricted items.

Livestock Keepers Urged to Stay Vigilant

The UK Chief Veterinary Officer is calling on livestock farmers to remain alert for clinical signs of foot and mouth disease, particularly after recent outbreaks in Europe.

Common signs of FMD in livestock include:

• Fever

• Lameness

• Excessive salivation

• Blisters on the feet and mouth

Although no cases have been reported in the UK, the economic impact of an outbreak would be severe—leading to production losses, trade restrictions, and potential loss of access to export markets.

What Is Foot and Mouth Disease?

Foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals. It spreads rapidly through animal contact, contaminated equipment, and even via clothing or vehicles.

Strict biosecurity practices are essential to prevent an outbreak and protect the UK’s livestock industry.

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Key Takeaways:

• UK bans imports of live animals and certain products from Austria due to FMD risk

• Import restrictions also apply to Hungary, Slovakia, and Germany

• Travellers face limits on personal imports of meat, dairy, and hay

• Livestock owners are urged to maintain strict biosecurity

Source: Gov.UK

Avian Influenza Detected in Sheep in Yorkshire: A First for the UK

The UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed a case of avian influenza (H5N1) in a single sheep in Yorkshire. This case was identified following routine surveillance of livestock co-located on a premises where avian influenza had previously been confirmed in captive birds. The infected sheep was humanely culled to enable extensive testing, and further testing of the remaining flock revealed no additional cases of the virus.

This marks the first time that avian influenza has been reported in a sheep, although similar cases have been detected in livestock in other countries. Despite this, there is no evidence to suggest an increased risk to the UK’s livestock population. The UK Chief Veterinary Officer is urging all livestock keepers to remain vigilant and maintain good biosecurity to prevent the spread of the disease.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has stated that avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds and poses a very low risk to public health. The Food Standards Agency has also reassured the public that properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, remain safe to eat.

Original story: Gov.uk

 

MLA

Weekly Cattle and Sheep Market Wrap: Prices Rise Amid Slaughter Decline

Cattle Market 
The GB overall all-prime cattle price saw a substantial increase of 10p/kg week-on-week, reaching 663p/kg. R4L prices for both steers and heifers climbed to 675p/kg, reflecting strong market demand. The estimated slaughter number for prime cattle was notably down, with a 5% decrease compared to the previous week.

In the week ending 15 March, GB deadweight cattle prices continued their upward trend. Overall steer and heifer prices grew by 10p/kg from the previous week, reaching 665p/kg and 663p/kg respectively. Young bulls also saw a similar increase, up 11p to 644p/kg. Deadweight cow prices rallied after muted growth in the previous week, showing an increase of 9p/kg to reach 495p/kg. This rise is the greatest for a month, suggesting it is following similar trends to prime cattle.

The estimated slaughter for GB prime cattle was down for the week ending 15 March, with an estimated kill of 33,800 head, representing a 5% drop compared to the previous week. Cow estimated slaughter followed a similar trend, down 700 head to an estimated 8,400 head.

Red meat retail performance indicates that although prices have begun to increase year-on-year, with the average price paid up 5.7%, volumes have remained relatively constant. This suggests good demand for beef despite the consumer starting to see some uplift in prices, which will be an important watchpoint over the coming months.

Sheep Market 
For the week ending 15 March, the GB deadweight old season lamb SQQ averaged 739p/kg, remaining flat compared to the previous week. This price is down 51p compared to the same week in 2024. The estimated kill was down by 10,500 head on the previous week, totaling 225,700 head, a significant drop of 4.5% on the week and 6% on the year.

Reports suggest that heavier stock appears to be dominating the market. This is supported by Defra carcase weights in February 2024, showing a slight month-on-month uplift, indicating that larger lambs that have had more time to grow are supporting supply at this time.

As the market continues to evolve, stakeholders will be closely monitoring these trends to make informed decisions. The rise in cattle prices and the steady lamb prices amidst declining slaughter numbers highlight the dynamic nature of the livestock market.

Original story: AHDB

Beijing has renewed registrations for hundreds of U.S. pork and poultry facilities, allowing them to continue exporting to China.

This move comes as a relief to U.S. farmers and meat companies, who have been navigating trade disputes with major agricultural importers, including China and Canada.

The renewals, which extend until 2030, were confirmed on China’s customs website. However, registrations for hundreds of U.S. beef facilities remain listed as “expired.” This situation has left U.S. exporters uncertain about the future of their shipments, as registrations for more than 1,000 U.S. meat plants granted under the 2020 “Phase 1” trade deal lapsed on Sunday.

The “Phase 1” trade deal, signed in 2020, aimed to end the previous U.S.-China trade war with a pledge from Beijing to boost its purchases of U.S. goods and services, including meat, by $200 billion over two years. Despite this agreement, China did not reach the target, which was set shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Shipments from facilities with lapsed registrations have continued to clear customs, but U.S. exporters remain unsure how long this will last. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has expressed concerns that China did not respond to repeated requests to renew plant registrations, potentially violating the Phase 1 agreement.

The renewals for pork and poultry are a positive development, but the uncertainty surrounding beef exports continues to pose challenges for U.S. meat producers.

Original story: Reuters

Beijing, March 17 (Reuters) – Export registrations for over 1,000 U.S. meat plants granted by China under the 2020 “Phase 1” trade deal lapsed on Sunday, according to China’s customs website. This development poses a significant threat to U.S. exports to the world’s largest buyer amid an ongoing tariff standoff.

The registration status for pork, beef, and poultry plants across the U.S., including those owned by major producers Tyson Foods, Smithfield Packaged Meats, and Cargill Meat Solutions, was changed from “effective” to “expired,” as reported by China’s General Administration of Customs. Reuters had previously reported on Friday that these registrations were at risk of lapsing.

The expiration of registrations for roughly two-thirds of the total registered facilities could severely restrict U.S. market access and potentially lead to losses of approximately $5 billion. This situation adds to the challenges faced by American farmers, especially after Beijing imposed retaliatory tariffs on about $21 billion worth of American farm goods earlier this month.

While registrations for around 84 U.S. plants lapsed in February, shipments from these plants continue to clear customs. However, it remains uncertain how long China will allow these imports to continue. Beijing requires food exporters to register with customs to sell their products in China, making the registration process crucial for maintaining market access.

This development could have significant implications for the U.S. meat industry and its trade relations with China.

Original story: Reuters