Photo: FAEP System

Brazil Extends Tilapia Import Consultation Amidst Sector Pressure and Disease Concerns

BRAZIL
Thursday, June 12, 2025, 08:00 (GMT + 9)

Producers, led by Paraná's dominant industry, advocate for market protection and biosecurity, citing potential threats to domestic production and economic stability if imports proceed.

CURITIBA – Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) has granted an extension to a public consultation regarding the import of tilapia, following intense pressure from the national aquaculture sector. The decision, confirmed on Friday (June 7), allows for further debate on a topic that has surprised and concerned local producers, particularly those in Paraná, Brazil's leading tilapia-producing state.

The request for extension came from the FAEP System, which focuses on the representation and development of the agricultural sector at the state level. Composed of the Agriculture Federation of the State of Paraná (FAEP), the National Rural Learning Service of Paraná (SENAR-PR), and rural unions, the FAEP System works to defend and legally represent agricultural producers across economic, social, and environmental sectors.

Fábio Mezadri from the Technical and Economic Department of the FAEP System, a key advocate for the extension, explained that the original two-month consultation period, launched on December 10, 2024, and ending February 10, 2025, was deemed insufficient. Its timing, coinciding with the year-end holiday season, created significant logistical impasses for technicians involved in the chain. "The producers themselves were also taken by surprise by this initiative to put this issue back on the agenda," Mezadri highlighted during a recent program.

Paraná's Dominance and Export Prowess at Stake

Paraná has consistently held the top position in Brazilian tilapia production, accounting for a substantial 36% of the national output, with 213.3 thousand tons produced in 2023. Beyond meeting robust domestic demand, the state is also Brazil's largest exporter of tilapia, having shipped US$35 million (64% of the national total) abroad in 2024. Brazil itself is rapidly gaining ground as the fourth-largest supplier of tilapia to the United States, with business volumes, particularly involving fresh fillets, doubling year over year.

 Photo: FAEP system (Sistema FAEP)

The potential opening of the Brazilian market to imported tilapia raises significant alarms for this thriving domestic industry. Producers fear unfair competition from cheaper foreign products that may not adhere to Brazil's stringent environmental and production standards.

Biosecurity Concerns and Industry Lobbying

Beyond economic concerns, a primary driver of the sector's opposition is the critical issue of biosecurity. Brazilian producers are highly concerned about the risk of introducing diseases not currently present in the country, such as specific strains of Streptococcus agalactiae or the highly virulent Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV), which could devastate local stocks. Industry associations emphasize that the chain requires strong commercial support and robust health protection to achieve its full potential.

 Photo: FAEP system (Sistema FAEP)

The Faep System, alongside other private sector and government entities, has been actively engaged in lobbying efforts. On February 3, they delivered a document to Governor Carlos Massa Junior, urging intervention to block the possible import of tilapia. The document underscored the industry's need for continued support and health safeguards.

 Photo: FAEP system (Sistema FAEP)

The extension of the public consultation period signals a recognition by Mapa of the complexity and high stakes involved in this decision. The debate is now expected to continue with broader participation from all segments of the aquaculture value chain, as Brazil balances trade considerations with the imperative to protect its burgeoning domestic tilapia industry and its robust biosecurity framework.

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