Mexico, Chile and Uruguay halt poultry imports from Brazil after bird flu outbreak

– Mexico, Chile, and Uruguay have suspended poultry imports from Brazil after the country confirmed its first outbreak of bird flu on a commercial farm, authorities announced over the weekend. The move comes as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the virus, which was detected at a facility in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.

Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock reported Friday that China and the European Union had also halted poultry imports in response to the outbreak. Mexico’s National Service for Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality stated that the ban includes chicken meat, fertile eggs, live birds, and other poultry products. Similar actions were confirmed by officials in Chile and Uruguay.

Brazil is a global powerhouse in poultry production, accounting for approximately 14% of the world’s chicken meat output, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The country’s poultry sector has recently seen a surge in egg exports to the United States, with shipments rising over 1,000% between January and April 2025 compared to the same period last year, following an egg shortage in the U.S. due to its own bird flu outbreak.

Brazilian authorities have activated a contingency plan aimed at eradicating the disease while maintaining production capacity to ensure domestic supply and food security. The Ministry has notified the World Organization for Animal Health, as well as health and environment agencies and international trade partners.

Export restrictions are being implemented in accordance with international agreements, which may apply to the entire country or be limited to specific regions, depending on the nature and scope of the outbreak. The Agriculture Ministry noted that some countries, such as Japan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the Philippines, have accepted a regional approach to such restrictions3.

This is not the first time Brazil’s poultry exports have faced challenges due to health concerns. In 2018, the European Union temporarily banned imports from 20 Brazilian plants over salmonella fears, a dispute that was brought before the World Trade Organization.

Authorities emphasize that the current measures are precautionary and part of established protocols to safeguard both public health and the global poultry trade