Quality and efficiency have made Brazil the world’s largest poultry exporter and third-largest producer. About a third of Brazil’s chicken production is exported – 4,6m out of 14,3m tonnes in 2020 – to over 150 countries worldwide.
Due to the sub-tropical climate and sustainable farming practices, Brazilian chickens enjoy ventilated spaces and lower density. The result is good animal health and welfare conditions, environmentally-friendlier poultry production, and competitive rates.
Sustainable and healthy poultry
The majority of Brazilian chicken exports come from smallholding chicken producers. A tightly integrated production chain includes chicken suppliers, farmers, abattoirs, and exporters.
The animals are raised in open-sided houses, lit by daylight and naturally ventilated. It has implicit benefits for animal welfare, preventing excess heat and diseases. Note that Brazil is one of the few large poultry producers that has never registered a single case of avian influenza (bird flu) and is also free of Newcastle disease. All poultry exported are hormone-free.
Integrated abattoirs are decisive in animal welfare, as they minimize the need to transport live animals. The simplified chain structure has also contributed to lower energy consumption and lower CO2 footprint when compared to typical large-scale chains.
The system also allows better quality control with constant technical and veterinary assistance. A network of specialized departments and highly-trained professionals, overseen by Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply (MAPA), inspects each stage of the production process.
Federal Inspection Service (Serviço de Inspeção Federal) personnel visits each exporting processing unit. It ensures strict compliance with internationally recognized standards, including BRC Global Standard for Food Safety, International Featured Standards (IFS), and the GLOBAL GAP Worldwide Standard for Good Agricultural Practices.
Multiple detailed programs such as the National Residues and Contaminants Control Programme (Programa Nacional de Controle de Resíduos e Contaminantes), the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP), and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) together focus on preserving the quality and health of Brazilian chickens and poultry products.
Halal Certification
Brazil has strategic partnerships with importing countries to meet market demands. It has guaranteed solid relationships with partners throughout the world. Brazil’s chicken exports are helping meet global demand for quality protein, including Halal certification.
Today we are the world’s largest Halal chicken exporter. The products are certified by independent entities such as the Islamic Dissemination Center for Islam in Latin America (CDIAL Halal), the Federation of Muslim Associations in Brazil (FAMBRAS), and the Islamic Inspection Services (SIIL Halal).