The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development suspended imports of poultry products from Brazil on October 19, 2026, after Brazilian authorities confirmed an outbreak of Newcastle disease at a commercial farm in Nova Itaberaba, in western Santa Catarina.
The measure, implemented by the National Service for Agrifood Health, Safety and Quality (Senasica), deactivated the Animal Health Requirement Sheets on its platform, according to the agency's official statement. Mexico is free of Newcastle disease, which affects the respiratory, nervous and digestive systems of birds. The outbreak was detected at a farm with approximately 6,000 birds, which was placed under quarantine with bird movement suspended, according to the G1 report. Brazil is the world's largest exporter of chicken meat and Mexico is among its destination markets, according to the same outlet. For Mexico, the sensitive point is the animal protein chain: the suspension touches imported inputs and forces importers to reschedule orders while the animal health situation is resolved.
The block covers a limited set of goods:
- Poultry meat and offal
- Fertile eggs and chicks up to three days old
- Songbirds, ornamental birds and birds of prey for commercial sale
- Pets
The restriction applies both to commercial imports and to products carried by tourists. The suspension does not set a review deadline and operates as a precautionary protocol, not a trade sanction. The Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA) and the Santa Catarina groups ACAV and Sindicarne said in a statement cited by El Financiero that there are no risks associated with consuming the product. Santa Catarina accounts for around 23% of Brazilian chicken exports so far this year, according to the same outlet.
The next point to watch is the geographic scope of the measure. Senasica conditioned the resumption of purchases on the Brazilian government providing scientific evidence that the outbreak is under control, without setting a date. Surveillance is concentrated on Santa Catarina, Brazil's second-largest chicken-producing state. The criteria applied will determine whether the restriction covers the entire country or is limited to the affected area.
This article was written with the assistance of artificial intelligence from verified sources and reviewed by a human editor before publication.