Data from the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA) show that Brazilian pork exports (including fresh and processed products) reached 102 thousand tons in May (-0.3% in volume compared to May 2020, with 102.4 thousand t). Revenues generated by sales in May reached US$ 253.2 million (+11.1% compared to the same month of 2020, with US$ 227.9 million).

From January to May, international sales of Brazilian pork totaled 453.9 thousand t (+18.44% in volume compared to the same period of 2020, with 383.2 thousand t). In value, exports reached US$ 1.079 billion (+22.9% compared to the same period of 2020, with US$ 878.3 million.

In these five months, the main importers included China, with 238.7 thousand t (+29%); Chile, with 25.5 thousand t (+94%); Uruguay, with 17.5 thousand t (+12.2%); Argentina, with 12.2 thousand t (+63.4%); and Vietnam, with 9.4 thousand t (+27.4%).

The state of Santa Catarina continues to be the largest exporter of pork in Brazil, with 227.6 thousand t exported between January and May (+14.7%). It is followed by Rio Grande do Sul, with 123.3 thousand t (+31.27%) and Paraná, with 59.3 thousand t (+13.34%).

Fertilisers of faecal origin, irrigation, and water are the most significant sources of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in plant-based food and/or aquaculture. In terrestrial animal production, potential sources are feed, humans, water, air or dust, soil, wildlife, rodents, arthropods, and equipment, says EFSA.

For the first time, EFSA experts have assessed the role of food producing environments in the emergence and spread of AMR. They identified the main sources of AMR bacteria and genes, although current data do not allow quantification of the specific contribution each of them makes to this global problem.

EFSA identified the resistant bacteria and genes of highest priority for public health that can be transmitted through the food chain and reviewed the scientific literature to describe their occurrence in those environmental sources.

Measures to limit the emergence and spread of resistance in food production environments include reducing the faecal microbial contamination of fertilizers, water and feed, and the implementation of good hygiene practices. Experts also made recommendations on priority areas for research that would help to close data gaps – thereby helping EU risk managers to implement the EU One Health Action plan against AMR.

Click here for the complete report: Role played by the environment in the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through the food chain

The Commission launched a public consultation, which aims to gather views on policy options for a possible revision of the EU marketing standards for agricultural products. Marketing standards establish the quality of products that are marketed to consumers through mandatory rules or optional reserved terms. They rely on technical product specifications to define uniform trade characteristics.

The consultation addresses in particular the potential of marketing standards to increase the supply of sustainable products and to streamline the current legislation. The consultation is open for 12 weeks, from 8 June to 31 August 2021.

The consultation targets operators in the food supply chain such as producers, traders, retailers, and their associations, consumers, civil society organisations and national authorities.

Announced in the Farm to fork strategy, the review follows an overall evaluation process of the EU marketing standards laid down in the common market organisation, the ‘breakfast directives’ and Commission acts.