Seoul, May 17
South Korea has suspended imports of poultry and related products from Brazil after a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak was confirmed at a commercial farm in the country, the agriculture ministry said Saturday.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said the measure follows Brazil's official report to the World Organisation for Animal Health confirming an HPAI outbreak at a breeder farm in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul on Friday (local time), news agency reported.
Imports of Brazilian poultry products, including hatching eggs and day-old chicks, have been suspended, effective for shipments departing on or after May 15, the ministry said.
Shipments that departed within 14 days before the ban will undergo HPAI testing upon arrival.
It marked the first time HPAI has been detected at a commercial poultry farm in Brazil, although it was first reported in wild birds in May 2023.
Brazil is the world's largest chicken exporter.