Sao Paulo [Brazil], September 5 (ANI): Brazil has suspended beef exports to China after confirming two cases of atypical mad cow disease in two separate domestic meat plants.

The temporary suspension that took effect on Saturday was announced by Brazil's Department of Inspection of Products of Animal Origin (Dipoa). This ban was declared in compliance with bilateral health protocols signed between the two countries.

Also Read | ISI Chief Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed During Visit to Afghanistan, Says ‘Everything Will Be Okay’.

The measure will remain in place "until the Chinese authorities complete the evaluation of the information on the cases that has already been delivered," said a statement, as quoted by Sputnik.

China, along with Hong Kong accounts for about 60 per cent of Brazil's beef export shipments, according to the Beef export tracker.

Also Read | US Climber Dies Near Summit of Bolivian Andes Peak.

Brazil's Agriculture Ministry said the two cases were reported in the city of Belo Horizonte in the state of Minas Gerais and in Nova Canaa do Norte in the state of Mato Grosso. Moreover, Brazil officially notified the World Organization for Animal Health after the disease was confirmed.

According to the Russian news agency, the last case of atypical mad cow disease in Brazil was recorded in 2019, and exports to China were also suspended temporarily at that time.

The ministry further said these current cases are the fourth and fifth atypical mad cow disease cases recorded in the country's 23 years of surveillance of the disease. (ANI)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)