The standards were published by the Brazilian Technical Standards (ABNT) Association after a long period of discussions and surveys.

The jerk chicken segment is on the rise in the consumer market of Brazil.

Created with the aim of establishing parameters for qualifying the poultry product as "jerk chicken", the standards deal with general aspects of production and segment labelling, scoring issues such as handling, culling criteria, sanitary control, raw materials and additives, required documentation, laboratory controls and others.

The standard was established by a committee that included representatives of the Association of Animal Protein (ABPA), Brazilian Association of Poultry Alternative (AVAL), Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) and several other organisations.

Coordinated by the representative of AVAL, Luiz Demattê, the group discussed over two years the guidelines that establish whether the product that can be recognised as jerk chicken. As he explained, the demand for standards first arose in the Department of Animal Products Inspection (DIPOA) at MAPA.

"The discussions by the standard were born of the need to normalise this market segment, with the problems faced by DIPOA to establish rules on labeling and communication to the consumer," he says.

Ariel Antônio Mendes, the Production Director of ABPA, said that the jerk chicken consumption market grew in recent years, attracting the attention of several companies for the segment.

"For this reason, it is essential to establish parameters so that we have a clear-cut niche market," he said.