China recognises Brazil as foot-and-mouth disease free, lifts bans

BEIJING, June 2 (Reuters) – China’s customs said it has lifted bans related to foot-and-mouth ?disease in northern Brazil, and recognises the ?whole of Brazil as free of the disease, according to an official notice released on Tuesday. The announcement is ?good news for Brazil, the world’s largest ?beef and chicken exporter. Brazil sent more ?than half of its beef exports to China ?last year. China, the world’s biggest beef importer, ?procured meat worth nearly $3 billion from Brazil in the first quarter of this year, its trade data show. Sign up here. Brazil asked ?China to allow the country…