JBS to Invest in Two New Meat Plants in Vietnam

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.

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

Meat Charge Hike Squeezes Abattoirs

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

Ban on Austrian Livestock Imports

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.

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

Sheep in Yorkshire Tests Positive for Avian Influenza

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

China Renews U.S. Meat Export Licenses

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

Newcastle Disease Spreads in Polish Poultry

Poland continues to grapple with Newcastle disease, as three more poultry flocks have been infected. On March 11, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) confirmed the presence of the disease in two flocks in Radomyśl Wielki and one flock in Unieck. The Unieck farm had 144,326 susceptible birds, while the Radomyśl Wielki flocks had 24,170 and 13,486 birds.

WOAH described the birds in these flocks as domestic poultry. Control measures being applied include stamping out, movement control, disinfection, zoning, surveillance within the restricted zone, traceability, and official destruction of animal products.

These new instances bring the total number of poultry flocks in Poland affected by Newcastle disease to 37 since WOAH first reported on the situation in 2024. Collectively, these 37 flocks have included 4,917,499 birds.

Currently, WOAH has active reports on Newcastle disease in three countries: Poland, Slovenia, and Israel. Sweden had earlier been dealing with an outbreak, but WOAH reported in January that the situation there had been resolved.

Original story: WATTPoultry

U.S. Meat Exports to China Threatened as Export Registrations Lapse

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

AIMS Calls on DHSC to Review FSA’s Meat Inspection System

AIMS Calls on DHSC to Review FSA’s Meat Inspection System

On the day the Chancellor meets with leading regulators to discuss reducing business burdens and promoting growth, the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) has published a report titled “A Strategic Review of Cost-Saving Opportunities in the FSA’s Meat Inspection System.” The report identifies up to £22 million per annum in potential savings through a detailed analysis of the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) current cost structure.

Dr. Jason Aldiss, Executive Director of AIMS, highlighted longstanding issues with the FSA’s third-party contractor: “We have known for a long time that the third-party contractor used by the FSA has failed to deliver the staff and levels of service required by the contract, resulting in at least £1.7 million in additional payments without any sign of service improvements.”

The report reveals wasteful duplication of managerial structures between the FSA and its contractor, attributed to a lack of effective ministerial oversight for many years. This inefficiency has burdened the meat and poultry processing sector with excessive charges and costly administrative burdens, placing the UK at a disadvantage compared to other livestock processing countries.

Dr. Aldiss pointed out that the UK’s meat inspection costs are significantly higher than those in comparable European countries such as France and Ireland, with businesses paying up to four times more than their EU counterparts.

At a time when the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), which sponsors this arm’s length quango, is looking to recover wasted taxpayer money, and the UK Government is focused on growing the economy through exports and controlling inflation, the FSA’s meat inspection system and associated costs have risen unchecked. AIMS urges the Secretary of State to review their report and meet with them at the earliest opportunity.

This call for action underscores the need for a strategic review to ensure the meat inspection system is both efficient and cost-effective, benefiting the industry and the economy as a whole.

UK Butchers Grapple with Unprecedented Beef Price Hikes

The beef industry is facing a significant challenge as prices continue to soar, with deadweight prices fast approaching £7 per kg and liveweight prices nearing £3000 per head.

This situation is causing concern among butchers and processors, who fear that the current pricing is unsustainable and could lead to serious problems in the future.

Grant Moir, managing director of AK Stoddart, has expressed his worries about the disconnect between farm-gate prices and the actual market value. He warns that a correction by retailers could have a detrimental impact on the industry. Since Christmas, the price of finished cattle has seen substantial increases, with values jumping by 15p per deadweight kg per week, according to AHDB figures. There is growing speculation that prices may break the £7 per kg barrier by the end of March.

John Carlisle from Border Meats highlights the impending price hikes on supermarket shelves, which have not yet been reflected in retail prices. He notes that the previous margins in the beef trade have been wiped out, and the supply chain cannot continue to absorb the high farm-gate prices. Some butchers have already raised their prices, but this has affected footfall in their shops. Carlisle points out that the cost of purchasing cattle has increased by £600 per head since Christmas, and consumers may need to pay 50% more for beef, rather than the 10% rise currently seen on shelves.

The potential price increase could see typical sirloin steaks sold in supermarkets rise from £28 per kg to £42, and weekend deals like two steaks for £10 could jump to £15. This could lead consumers to seek alternative meal options.

Farmer and Forres butcher Jock Gibson adds that if farmers and processors need £7 per kg to maintain their operations, consumers will have to pay more than they currently do. However, he is uncertain whether consumers and the food service sector are willing to accept these higher prices. Gibson warns that the industry may resort to importing beef to fill the gap if domestic prices continue to rise.

Original story: The Northern Farmer

China’s Huaxi Cattle Breed to Make International Debut

China’s Huaxi Cattle Breed to Make International Debut in Laos

BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) — China’s “Huaxi cattle” breed will make its first international appearance under a beef cattle breeding cooperation project with Laos, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences announced on Friday.

The project, signed in Vientiane earlier this week, will see China export 100,000 doses of frozen semen and 10 breeding bulls of the Huaxi cattle to Laos. The goal is to enhance the efficiency of beef cattle breeding and cultivate high-quality breeds in the Southeast Asian nation, according to the academy.

“This marks an important step for China’s beef cattle breeding industry into the global market, laying a solid foundation for its international development,” the academy stated.

The Huaxi cattle breed is the result of over four decades of research efforts and offers rapid growth, high-quality meat, and strong adaptability, with performance metrics matching international advanced levels. A mature bull weighs up to approximately 900 kg.

Some 23,400 Huaxi cattle have been bred across 12 Chinese provincial-level regions, supported by an advanced breeding database in addition to a network of breeding farms and bull stations, the academy reported.

Original story: Xinhua