ABPA outlines quality control plans for Brazilian poultry sector
The ABPA analysis identified that livestock in the country is reared mostly in units kept at optimal temperatures, with plenty of natural light. They have space to move around, are fed food high in nutrients and farms breeding them have robust biosecurity measures in place, as well as good veterinarian and technical support systems.
Sustainability
Energy consumption was found to be reduced, thanks to the country’s climate, meaning farmers didn’t have to heat them. The farms analysed also used bio-energy provided from planted forests rather than from the Amazon rainforest, and electricity came from hydroelectricity infrastructures.
The food given to livestock was soya and corn, which came from crops located close to the poultry farms so there was no need for long transportation. Food safety standards were found to be of a high standard, with facilities following HACCP protocols. Internal controls, reviewed several times a year, meant that the poultry distributed was of very good quality and fully traceable, as well as meeting EU standards.
Another finding from the analysis were the benefits of the collaboration between family-run farms and agribusiness companies, which was shown to contribute significantly to the development of communities, through both job creation and income.
Next steps
The next phase of ABPA’s plan to become a benchmark example of high quality within the industry is to implement a scientific advisory committee, formed of three independent experts from the European Union and Brazil.
The committee would consist of a range of experts recruited from a variety of sectors, including food safety, the environment, and animal health and welfare. Although initiated by ABPA, the aim is that the committee would be an independent voice within the poultry industry.
Ricardo Santin, executive director at ABPA, said: “We are pleased with the continued efforts we are putting in place to ensure Brazilian poultry is of the highest standard possible. The process is a journey, and having already made several good steps forward, our aim is to continue to build on this and develop further with initiatives such as the scientific committee. The UK and the EU continue to be a key market for Brazilian poultry, and we want to meet that demand and be sure to continue to keep providing the quality produce we have been delivering so far. After all, the food that we export is the same that we offer to our families.”
