China limits Brazilian poultry ban to 14 plants in Santa Catarina

China suspended imports from 14 Santa Catarina plants rather than from all of Brazil after Newcastle disease was confirmed on 19 October — the narrowest reading of a protocol that allows a nationwide ban, and a sign that the disruption to Brazilian supply is smaller than the first headlines suggested.

Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture confirmed Newcastle disease at a commercial turkey farm in Nova Itaberaba, Santa Catarina, on 19 October 2026, and stopped issuing export health certificates for poultry bound for China the same day. On 20 October China suspended imports from the 14 plants in Santa Catarina authorised to ship there: five Aurora Coop facilities, six operated by Seara, which belongs to JBS, and three belonging to MBRF, a mix of slaughterhouses and distribution centres.

Brazil has 61 plants authorised to export poultry to China, and China took about 420,000 tonnes, close to 10 percent of Brazilian chicken exports, between January and September 2026. Because the suspension is limited to one state, plants in Paraná — Brazil's largest poultry-exporting state — and in other states keep their access. In 2024, after an outbreak in Rio Grande do Sul, China first halted imports from the whole country and narrowed the ban to the state 26 days later; this time the restrictions were geographically targeted from the start.

• Scope: Santa Catarina accounts for around 15 percent of Brazilian poultry production, so the difference between a state-level ban and a national one is large in tonnage terms.
• Other markets: Mexico suspended imports from all of Brazil, Chile restricted plants in Santa Catarina, and Saudi Arabia, another major buyer of Brazilian chicken, is expected to limit its ban to the same state.
• What still moves: Brazilian product from other states, with health certificates issued as normal, and consignments that left before 19 October.
• What buyers should check: the state of origin and the plant number on each health certificate — a national ban and a state ban look the same on a price screen, but not on a document.

We supply halal frozen poultry from GACC-registered plants with halal, HACCP, veterinary health and origin certificates issued for each consignment, and every certificate is checked against the importing country's requirements before loading. Buyers who want a second origin qualified while Brazilian supply is uncertain can write to info@naufoodgroup.com.

Source: Valor International, 21 October 2026, citing Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and Mexico's Senasica; The Poultry Site, 20 October 2026, citing Reuters and Citi.