Brazil, the world’s leading poultry exporter, has officially declared its commercial chicken flocks free of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), the Ministry of Agriculture announced on Wednesday.
The declaration follows a 28-day period without any new outbreaks on commercial farms — a key benchmark for regaining HPAI-free status under international health guidelines.
The countdown began on May 22 after the complete disinfection of a breeder farm in Montenegro, Rio Grande do Sul, where the country’s only commercial outbreak was reported last month. The incident prompted the culling of 17,000 birds and led to temporary import bans from major trading partners, including China.
Although Brazil has now met domestic requirements for disease-free status, formal recognition from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) is still pending.
Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro said Brazil is now focused on restoring confidence and reopening key poultry export markets, which represent 39% of global chicken trade. “Resuming exports will depend on negotiations with each trading partner,” he noted.
A state official in Rio Grande do Sul confirmed that all health protocol steps have been completed, positioning Brazil to reclaim its HPAI-free status. The ministry expressed optimism that international trade will soon resume, pending bilateral agreements and WOAH confirmation.
Nzubechukwu Eze
