Sanitary Agreement on the importation into Italy of meat from the Federative Republic of Brazil

The aim of this Agreement is to facilitate commercial traffic in meat between the two Contracting Parties. For the achievement of this purpose, on the one hand, the Brazilian Government undertakes to provide the technical, hygienic and sanitary guarantees required by the Italian authorities for the importation from Brazil of refrigerated and frozen meat of domestic animals pertaining to the equine, bovine, ovine, caprine and porcine species which meet the conditions set out in Annex A to the Agreement. The latter lists out a series of hygienic and sanitary conditions intended to protect human health. Some types of meat (such as meat from boars and cryptorchid pigs or meat that comes from animals slaughtered as an emergency measure) may not be imported from Brazil into Italy. On the other hand, the Italian Government undertakes to permit the importation from Brazil of meat satisfying the above-mentioned requirements. Deep-frozen meat is included. Nevertheless, importation of deep-frozen meat may take place only upon approval of the technical, hygienic and sanitary conditions to be established in an additional protocol which shall enter into force following an exchange of notes between the two Governments. To ensure the effective enforcement of this Agreement, the Brazilian Federal veterinary authorities shall periodically forward to the Italian competent authorities the monthly statistical bulletins on infectious and contagious animal diseases as well as full information on the health conditions of herds. Four Annexes are attached to the Agreement. Annex B contains the specimen of the sanitary certificate to be issued by the competent Brazilian veterinary authority and intended for meat and meat-based products for export to Italy. Annex C is divided into ten Chapters concerning: a) requirements for the recognition of slaughter-houses; b) requirements for the recognition of cutting and boning shops; c) hygiene of the staff, premises and equipment in slaughter-houses and cutting and boning shops; d) ante-mortem inspection; e) rules of hygiene governing slaughter; f) post-mortem inspection; g) standards relating to meat to be cut and boned; h) stamps; i) packaging and wrapping; j) transportation. Annex D contains the specimens relating to the official stamps for the identification of Brazilian meat.