Alckmin says Brazil is free from foot-and-mouth disease and will no longer need to vaccinate herds | Policy

The vice-president of the Republic, Geraldo Alckmin, announced this Thursday (2), that Brazil is free from foot-and-mouth disease and that there is no longer a need for vaccination of livestock against disease.

The speech was made at Palácio do Planalto, in Brasília. Earlier, a concierge was published in the Official Gazette of the Union (DOU) recognizing the situation.

“Today is a historic day, because Brazil has always dreamed of being a country free from foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination, which is an extremely high stage in animal health and good agricultural defense,” said Alckmin.

Study shows that there is no circulation of foot-and-mouth disease in Tocantins herds

In this way, herd immunization was suspended in all units of the federation.

Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock brought forward the latest immunization campaign in the states of Alagoas, Ceará, Paraíba, Pernambuco and Rio Grande do Norte — which had not yet recognized the end of the disease.

The expectation now is to be able to anticipate the international recognition of these areas, which can facilitate market openings. Brazil’s goal is to be internationally recognized as being completely free of foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination by 2026.

The Secretary of Agricultural Defense, Carlos Goulart, stated that, in August, the Ministry should send the results of the suspension of vaccination in Brazil to the World Organization for Animal Health (Omsa) and that the organization’s audit is expected to be completed by May 2025.

“This is perhaps the most difficult challenge Brazil has taken on in decades,” said Secretary Goulart.

The Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Fávaro, stated that, with the decision, Brazil will be able to enter “a level not previously accessed” as is the case of Japan and South Korea.

“What does that mean? It is not the end of a process, it is the beginning of a process in which Brazil changes its level, within a group of the global health elite, which is much more difficult to maintain within this elite. Logically, if you withdraw the vaccine we become more vulnerable, but with dedication we will reach very demanding markets. Once recognized by Omsa, we will be able to sell to Japan, South Korea and which few countries in the world can access”, stated Fávaro.

The minister also highlighted that, based on this recognition, new commercial opportunities will also emerge.

“Brazil rises to the top step of global health. So desired. This generates many commercial opportunities for us. The most demanding markets will then be open to Brazil, the most remunerative markets. But maintaining this status, by removing the vaccine, the vaccine is a facilitator for us to be free from ferb and phytosis. Therefore, it will be an even greater effort by the union of states, municipalities, livestock farmers, so that inspection and health attitudes are changed to a new level”, he pointed out. .

The states of Acre, Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul and Rondônia as well as parts of Amazonas and Mato Grosso already have international recognition from Omsa, and also do not vaccinate their herds.

To achieve international recognition, Omsa demands the suspension of vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease and a ban on the entry of vaccinated animals into the proposed states and regions for at least 12 months.

Thus, the ordinance published this Thursday also highlights this requirement, by establishing restrictions on the movement of cattle and buffaloes between states that had already recognized the end of the disease and those that have only now recognized it. This also applies to products obtained from these herds.

The storage, sale and use of vaccines is also prohibited.