Islamic Inspection Service - SIILHalal

Muslim countries are the main buyers of Brazilian cattle

Brazil is considered one of the largest meat producers in the world, as a result of a lot of investment in sanitation, food and technology, in addition to the domestic market, to be present in more than 150 countries.

Currently, Brazil is responsible for the production of 10 million tons of beef, 20.8% are traded to dozens of countries around the world, following the most stringent quality standards. In Brazil the export of live cattle started about ten years ago.

Initially, this trade occurred in small quantities, not very significant, going to Lebanon, Egypt and some Arab countries. Since 2014 there is a growing demand for live cattle export. This development occurs because Brazil has become a benchmark in sanitation, and for exporters, investments in live animals are much smaller.

As there is no need for packaging of meat, packaging, closure, preservatives, etc., the receiving country can market the beef to the final consumer at a lower cost. The meat reaches the final market fresh and not frozen.

"In addition, another advantage that I point out is that this type of export provides security for buyers, because they can kill, according to the laws of the country," says Halal market specialist Chaiboun Darwiche.

Impact on the economy According to the Brazilian Association of Meat Exporting Industries (ABIEC), in 2017 Brazil reached a figure of approximately US $ 6.3 billion, increasing by more than 10 times the value of its beef exports.

In a scenario where several sectors of the economy tend to retreat, livestock farming continues on a slight rise, after all, food is a basic and primordial need for human life.

For Darwiche, the good results generated annually in the country are the result of constant investments in genetics and the production chain.

"Today, Brazil is the largest bovine Halal market in the world and this is due to the seriousness and know-how of Brazilian companies that respect religion and international food safety rules," he says.

International standards for animal welfare

The sale of animals to Muslim countries follows strict standards, which assures consumers of food security and in no way creates suffering for the cattle.

For beef to be considered Halal, the animals must be slaughtered following the Islamic rituals, such as:

- The animal must be slaughtered facing Mecca.

- The animal must not be thirsty at the time of slaughter.

- The knife should be very sharp and it should not be sharp in front of the animal.

- The cut should be on the neck made by a Muslim who has reached puberty. He must pronounce the name of Allah during the slaughter, with the face of the moving animal half-moon.

- The three main vessels (jugular, trachea and esophagus) of the neck should be cut.

Death must be quick to avoid suffering for the animal.

- The blood should be completely removed from the carcass.

After that, it begins the process and industrialization that the refrigerators follow.

When producers export live animals there are rules established by the Ministry of Agriculture and / or industry entities for animal welfare. First, the animal has to stay on a farm while waiting for boarding. The ship that will make the transfer has to be equipped for this service, like temperature, feeding, etc.

The exporter must follow the standards - national and international - and be certified by entities, ie it is not any and any company that can do this transport, which minimizes the risks of problems and suffering to the animals.

With each passing year the standards are more rigid and severe. Before the animal embarks for the country of destination, it needs documentation and complete control.

The exporter, in turn, needs documentation that ensures the well-being throughout the course, food, space, temperature. They are required to follow rules and care, both domestic and international, this avoids and minimizes any problem.