Among the world's leading poultry producers, Brazil is the only country that has never registered a focus of the disease in its various forms.

According to UBABEF, following proposed guidelines by the union, associated agribusinesses are taking a series of preventive measures, particularly against imports from foreign countries.

Among the safety procedures established by UBABEF, emphasis has been laid on biosecurity through banning of imports from countries with records of avian influenza. UBABEF has even recommended various poultry facilities to regard restictions as strictly necessary.

Poultry imports from countries that are declared bird flu-free must comply with a quarantine period within the country of origin for at least 30 days without making contact with Brazilian poultry establishments.

Besides all these restrictions, imports are to meet a number of requirements relating to equipment and health care in order to keep Brazilian poultry safe from avian influenza.

UBABEF's Ariel Antônio Mendes said that Brazilian poultry production has received full support from the Ministry of Agriculture, particularly through the National Poultry Health Program (NPFS), in order for the country to maintain a disease-free status.

"The MAP performs a work of excellence in this direction and, as we have been informed in recent days, will further intensify the actions of awareness about foreign imports in the period before and during the Confederations Cup with brochures, posters and other explanatory tools about the care of avian influenza," Mr Mendes said.

Francisco Turra, President of UBABEF, said that the union is implementing procedures and guidelines for preventive action and trainings are underway across the country. Last week, officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, UBABEF and corporate sectors held a simulated medical emergency training.