China temporarily suspends beef imports from Brazilian plant

China has temporarily suspended imports from a Brazilian beef plant owned by Minerva SA for one week.

It’s reported that the suspension comes amid concerns over coronavirus contamination in Brazilian meat plants.

The Chinese customs authority in statement dated September 30 said the suspension would take effect on October 1 and last for one week, after which imports could resume.

The statement did not give a reason for the suspension and identified the facility by its registration number as a plant in the Barretos municipality of Sao Paulo state.

According to a Chinese customs statement the suspension came after a package of frozen boneless beef from

had tested positive for the coronavirus.

Minerva declined to comment.

The company is South America's largest exporter of beef, with China being the largest importer of Brazilian meat.

As the coronavirus ravaged Brazilian meat facilities with thousands of cases, China has halted meat imports from Brazilian food processors including Marfrig, JBS SA and BRF SA over contamination concerns in the past few months.

Not including the weeklong Minerva temporary suspension, a total of seven Brazilian meat plants remain suspended from exporting to China, with some of them having stopped shipments voluntarily, according to Chinese customs office records.

Marfrig's chief executive said that he expects China to issue new export licenses to Brazilian and Argentine meat plants later this year, but did not give further details.