Brazilian Chicken Returns to Montenegro – But Is It Really Safe?
Did you hear? Montenegro has just lifted the ban on importing chicken meat from Brazil! After Brazil reported cases of bird flu in mid-June, Brazilian chicken can now be found on our tables again. But is this a smart move?
What happened with the bird flu? Brazil reported bird flu cases in mid-June, which led many countries, including Montenegro, to ban the import of chicken meat. However, Brazil officially regained its status as a bird flu-free country on June 18, having had no new cases on commercial farms for 28 days. This was enough for Montenegro to lift the import suspension.
Is it safe for us? Vladimir Đaković, Director of the Food Safety Administration, claims that Brazilian chicken is now safe to import. He emphasizes that Montenegro conducts intensified sampling of meat entering the country, not only from Brazil but from other countries as well. Also, only facilities with EU import permits can bring meat into Montenegro, aligning with EU regulations.
But is that enough? Although Đaković points out that there have been no recorded cases of bird flu in local bird populations, with the last case at Lake Skadar earlier this year, some irregularities in food safety controls have been noted. Nothing alarming, but still – do we want to take the risk?
What do others say? Brazil announced that 16 other countries have also lifted their bans on Brazilian chicken imports, including Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Japan, and others. Japan, the third-largest importer of Brazilian chicken, also lifted trade restrictions. So Montenegro is not alone here.
Increased monitoring during tourist season Đaković announced that from September 1, intensified monitoring will be conducted in all tourist centers in Montenegro to protect consumers. That’s good news, but why wait until September? The tourist season is already underway, and we all eat chicken.
Conclusion: Is this a smart decision? Is lifting the ban on Brazilian chicken imports a bold move or a dangerous gamble with consumer health? On one hand, Brazil has proven it is free of bird flu, but on the other, inspections still reveal irregularities. Maybe it’s time for all of us to think twice before putting that chicken on our plates.
What about you? Would you eat Brazilian chicken now? Or have you already tried it? Share your thoughts – you might surprise us all!
Source: RTCG, statements by Vladimir Đaković, Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture
