April 25, 2017 – The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries today announced the lifting of the temporary restriction on both the import and retail sale of meat products from Brazil including corned beef, chicken patties and chicken nuggets.
The temporary restriction, which began on March 21, is lifted with immediate effect following clear and unambiguous assurances from the Brazilian government yesterday that addressed outstanding food-safety concerns.
The correspondence from Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture Blairo Maggi to Minister Clarence Rambharat confirmed there had been no exports of meat products to Trinidad and Tobago from any of the processing plants under investigation by Brazilian authorities.
In his correspondence, Minister Maggi reiterated the Brazilian government’s rigorous audit and risk-assessment protocols for its meat products as they relate to food inspection and food quality.
Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries received and considered the advice of Dr. Roshan Parasram, the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health, which was based on the results of tests conducted by the Chemistry, Food and Drug Division on samples of corned beef imported from Brazil prior to the March 21 restriction.
The CMO advised that the tests “revealed that these samples were safe and that the product standards were in keeping with international accepted criteria for food safety. Furthermore, samples of corned beef were visually examined and no visible signs of damaged or rusted cans observed. Also, the labels were in compliance with the requirements of Section 16 of the Food and Drugs Regulation.”
Following the decision to lift the restriction on Brazilian meat imports, the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries has advised the Ministry of Health to discontinue the recall of meat products imported from Brazil prior to March 21.
Importers, supermarkets and other wholesale and retail outlets are once more permitted to sell meat products imported from Brazil including corned beef, chicken patties and chicken nuggets originating from Brazil and imported into Trinidad and Tobago prior to March 21, 2017.
Also, with immediate effect, the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries will resume issuing import permits for meat products from Brazil.
Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat continues to monitor this situation via regular updates from Dr. Amery Browne, Trinidad and Tobago’s ambassador to Brazil who, in fact, is scheduled to meet with Brazilian government officials today in Brazil.
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For further information please contact:
The Corporate Communications Unit
Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries
868-622-1221