EN 
PT_BR 
A delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) fulfilled, on Tuesday (24), an official agenda in the city of Gimcheon, in South Korea, where it participated in a meeting with Commissioner Choi Jung-Rok of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA).
The meeting aimed to continue the political commitments discussed between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the president. Lee Jae-myung, and among the Ministers of Agriculture Carlos Fávaro and Song Mi-ryung, with a focus on advancing the sanitary and phytosanitary agenda between the two countries.
(Photo: Caio Aquino/Map)
During the meeting, the Brazilian side, led by the Secretary of Commerce and International Relations, Luís Rua, highlighted the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in the agricultural sector and reinforced the country's willingness to receive South Korean technical missions for audits in Brazil.
Among the main advances, the holding of a technical mission in September was confirmed for an on-site inspection aimed at enabling Brazilian grapes for export to the South Korean market.
In the area of animal protein, the 15 Brazilian poultry meat plants, already approved by the competent South Korean food safety authority, are still under analysis by APQA, with a response expected by mid-March.
Regarding eggs and egg products, the International Sanitary Certificate (ISC) proposal submitted by Brazil is under review by Korean authorities, who expect to provide feedback soon.
Pork was also on the agenda. Expanding the scope to the entire Brazilian territory is under evaluation, with the result expected to be announced by the Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), possibly followed by an on-site inspection. Furthermore, there are plans to conduct a mission in the second half of the year to certify six Brazilian establishments (three for pork and three for flour).
Beef was treated as a priority by the Brazilian delegation, which advocated for a technical audit and reiterated the country's willingness to receive the Korean mission as soon as possible.
