Campo Grande, August 7, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The state of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) has a good opportunity to sell fresh beef to the United States, informed the delegate of the Ministry of Agriculture in the state, José Antônio Roldão, who accompanied an American technical mission that concluded an inspection visit to meat packing houses in the state. "The expectation is highly positive, since all their queries received adequate responses. We showed that our sanitary situation is highly favorable and that we are exercising satisfactory control," Roldão declared.

He explained that along the 1,600 kilometers of border between Mato Grosso do Sul and neighboring countries that still have problems with hoof and mouth disease, surveillance is alert.

The expectation, according to Roldão, is that exports of fresh beef from Mato Grosso do Sul to the United States should start by the beginning of 2004. (DAS)