HARARE: Government has temporarily banned the importation of meat and related products from Brazil, with that country already investigating rotten meat exports. In an interview on the sidelines of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s tour of Pamene Farm in Alaska, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made said the position was precautionary.
Sanitary and quality levels have come into question in Brazil, resulting in several countries suspending meat imports from that country. “This is a matter that is being investigated by the Brazilian Government themselves,” said Dr Made. “So, with us it is the same, we suspended importation of any goods that are related to meat products originating from Brazil.” He said this also applied to products processed and repackaged in other countries, but originating from that country.
Zimbabwe has been importing large quantities of meat, including cheap chickens from Brazil. Dr Made said the ban would subsist until Brazilian authorities finalised investigations into the matter and Zimbabwe’s authorities conducted inspections in the country and were satisfied. All authorities related to sanitation and health, including ministries of Industry and Commerce, Health and Child Care and Agriculture have that position, he said.
