Brazil auditors protest to affect meat health certification for another 8 days (updated)

BRF SA

21/02/2024 19:36

(Recasts throughout with labor union leader's remarks)
    By Ana Mano
       SAO PAULO, Feb 21 (Reuters) - 
    Brazil health auditors who oversee meat plants will continue
to delay the issuance of international health certificates
pending talks with the government next week as they protest work
conditions, an association representing the auditors said on
Wednesday.
  
        Janus Macedo, head of the Anffa labor union group, said
that legally auditors have up to five days to complete a number
administrative talks, including issuance of such certificates.
As a form of protest for better work conditions, he said they
plan to continue using all of that time. 
        "We are doing this firstly to draw attention to the
deficiency in the number of auditors, and secondly to push for
the restructuring of our career," Macedo said by telephone. 
  
        Among other demands, Macedo said the government needs to
raise the number of federal health auditors by at least 1,700 to
keep up with Brazil's $23 billion meat export industry.
  
        At the moment there are a total of around 2,300 health
auditors and they are "overburdened," he said.
  
        Meatpackers are worried because delays in the issuance
of international health certificates can disrupt trade and meat
supplies, according to industry lobby ABPA.  
    "The mobilization immediately puts live cargo at risk and
compromises the import and export of genetic material, which are
highly sensitive to transit time," said ABPA. "In the short
term, the delay in production lines could impact product
supply."
        Macedo denied any delays to issue international health
certificates for perishable consignments like fertile eggs and
one-day chicks, which need to be cleared for shipment on the
same day.
  
        Anffa's labor action began at the end of January, ABPA
said.
  
        After a meeting with Brazilian Agriculture Minister
Carlos Favaro on Wednesday, Macedo told Reuters that new talks
with the government will take place on Feb 29.
  
        He said that although "the minister does not have
decision-making power" relative to auditors' careers, he could
be instrumental to persuade the government to meet their
demands.
  

 (Reporting by Ana Mano
Editing by Marguerita Choy)
 ((ana.mano@thomsonreuters.com; Tel: +55-11-5644-7704; Mob:
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