Brasília, 6/17/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - As a result of negotiations which began in May, yesterday Brazil normalized meat exports to Russia.

Russia had suspended imports of Brazilian pork from the state of Santa Catarina in December 2002, and from the state of Rio Grande do Sul in May 2003, because of the occurrence of Aujeszki disease in pigs in those states (the disease does not attack humans, but requires the sacrifice of swine that get it).

Normalization followed Russain acceptance of certification by the Animal Inspection Agency at the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture. (AB)