Jamaica bans importation of corned beef from Brazil due to 'rotten meat scandal'
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LOOP NEWS
18:31, March 20, 2017
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The Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry has imposed an immediate ban on the importation of corned beef from Brazil.
The move follows reports from Brazilian authorities that several major meat processors in that country have been “selling rotten beef and poultry”.
The companies that are said to be involved have also been alleged to have paid significant bribes to auditors in exchange for fraudulent sanitary licences.
The implicated companies are all large-scale corned beef producers, and Brazil reportedly has by far the lion’s share of the local corned beef market.
Arising from the developments in Brazil, Karl Samuda, the Jamaican Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, called an emergency meeting on Monday at the ministry’s Hope Gardens offices, where he cited the importance of safeguarding the welfare of consumers locally.
Officials from the Agriculture Ministry, the Ministry of Health, the Consumer Affairs Commission, the Bureau of Standards Jamaica, the National Compliance Regulatory Authority, and the Jamaica Customs Agency, were all in attendance at the meeting.
Additionally, the Agriculture Ministry has called a meeting with major local food distributors and importers of corned beef.
Out of the emergency meeting, as a public health safety measure, the following decisions were taken with immediate effect.
Consumers in general are also being cautioned not to consume corned beef until further notice.
@Luken
Skip to main content
LOOP NEWS
18:31, March 20, 2017
2991 VIEWS
The Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry has imposed an immediate ban on the importation of corned beef from Brazil.
The move follows reports from Brazilian authorities that several major meat processors in that country have been “selling rotten beef and poultry”.
The companies that are said to be involved have also been alleged to have paid significant bribes to auditors in exchange for fraudulent sanitary licences.
The implicated companies are all large-scale corned beef producers, and Brazil reportedly has by far the lion’s share of the local corned beef market.
Arising from the developments in Brazil, Karl Samuda, the Jamaican Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, called an emergency meeting on Monday at the ministry’s Hope Gardens offices, where he cited the importance of safeguarding the welfare of consumers locally.
Officials from the Agriculture Ministry, the Ministry of Health, the Consumer Affairs Commission, the Bureau of Standards Jamaica, the National Compliance Regulatory Authority, and the Jamaica Customs Agency, were all in attendance at the meeting.
Additionally, the Agriculture Ministry has called a meeting with major local food distributors and importers of corned beef.
Out of the emergency meeting, as a public health safety measure, the following decisions were taken with immediate effect.
- A temporary hold will be placed on all permits for the importation of corned beef from Brazil.
- As a precautionary measure, all imported corned beef that is currently on the shelves will be withdrawn.
- The National Food Recall Committee will meet immediately to determine the next steps and inform when it will be safe to consume the product.
Consumers in general are also being cautioned not to consume corned beef until further notice.