The chief executive of the Brazilian Poultry Union (UBABEF), Francisco Turra, has met the president of the Latin American Poultry Association (ALA) and the Center for Business Poultry Processors (CEPA) of Argentina, Roberto Domenech. The meeting took place at the headquarters of CEPA, in Buenos Aires (Argentina).

In a meeting that was attended by entrepreneurs from agribusiness producers and exporters in Argentina, Mr Turra highlighted the need to strengthen the work in order to protect Latin American countries from outbreaks of avian influenza, especially after the record new varieties, such as H7N9, recently discovered in China.

"High health status is one of the most valuable assets of poultry production in the continent, especially for the Mercosur countries, where there has never been reported cases of avian influenza," said Mr Turra, who is also vice-president of the ALA. "As a result, in July, the ALA will hold a major meeting, attended by government officials and the private sector of each member country, to draw up a disease defence plan for the continent."

As well as poultry health issues, the increase in exports of Brazil and Argentina will also be on the agenda of the meeting and the opening of the Mexican market for the import of poultry products from the two countries. The highlight of the meeting was discussion on the establishment of bilateral agreements to expand international trade.

Mr Turra said that it is understandable that the private sector in the two countries feels uneasy when global trade agreements are made and for this reason, he said, Brazil and Argentina will work towards the establishment of agreements, even without the support of all the member countries of Mercosur.

Further Reading

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