The Imminent Menace of Sanitary Barriers in International Trade

Animal disease outbreaks have severe economic consequences, especially for international trade. A recent example was the identification of two atypical cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Brazil in early September 2021. Although Brazil’s BSE status did not change within the World Organization for Animal Health, severe sanitary restrictions interrupted Brazilian beef trade. Egypt and Saudi Arabia halted beef imports from Brazil for two weeks. China and Hong Kong, which account for about 60% of Brazil’s beef exports, suspended beef imports from Brazil for more than three months. In the month following the notification of the BSE cases, international shipments of Brazilian beef were 49% lower compared to the same period in 2020. Consequently, domestic prices of live animals decreased by 8% in September, and 11.8% in October 2021, leading to the most unfavorable cattle market conditions in Brazil since 2000.

As in the case of Brazil, identification of animal disease is an imminent risk for the U.S., simply because diseases can be difficult to control and have widespread consequences. This risk is demonstrated by the current outbreak of avian influenza in the U.S., which has affected 24 states so far and led to restrictions on American poultry products imported by Canada, Mexico, and China. The extent of the economic damage from this current outbreak is still unknown.

Countries that are major exporters of animal products, such as the U.S., are substantially impaired by sanitary barriers when animal disease outbreaks occur. Trade diversion to other suppliers can cause significant export market losses, as observed during the 2000’s after the BSE outbreak in the U.S. Animal disease events in Brazil and the U.S. highlight the importance of understanding risks within agricultural systems in terms of the direct impact of disease on animal health and food safety, as well as the amplified international trade impacts.

Figure 1. Monthly Beef Exports and Cattle Price Index in Brazil in 2021

Menezes, Tais and Amanda Countryman. “The Imminent Menace of Sanitary Barriers in International Trade.” Southern Ag Today 2(23.4). June 2, 2022. Permalink