The final report from the European Union audit confirmed that Uruguay continues to meet all requirements to export beef to the bloc, while efforts are advancing with China to lift suspensions linked to veterinary drug residue findings.
Between May 4 and 15, two auditors from DG Santé—the European Union’s health and food safety authority—visited six slaughter plants, a cold storage facility, a cattle farm and a livestock auction market, as well as certification offices within the Animal Industry Division and the headquarters of Uruguay’s Livestock Services.
The final report, received this week, concluded that Uruguay’s veterinary authority has an appropriate structure in place to carry out all official controls and support export certification to the European market, according to Diego Domínguez, Director of Animal Industry at MGAP, speaking on Valor Agregado. “It is truly a very positive result,” Domínguez said.
Recognition of the General Directorate of Livestock Services as the competent veterinary authority by DG Santé allows Uruguay to list establishments eligible to export to Europe without requiring plant-by-plant audits. The country has maintained this system for years, supported by periodic reviews conducted every two to three years.
Within this framework, Abasto de Carnes Saturno—formerly Frigorífico Florida—already appears on the list of approved establishments and continues to meet all requirements to export to the European Union.
China, residues and suspended plants
China remains the more complex issue. In May, a delegation led by Deputy Minister Matías Carámbula and including representatives from the General Directorate of Livestock Services, Dilave and the Animal Industry Division traveled to China during the SIAL Shanghai exhibition. Meetings were held with the GACC, China’s customs authority responsible for meat market access, to present the measures adopted by Uruguay following veterinary drug residue findings.
According to Domínguez, Chinese authorities responded positively to both the speed and robustness of Uruguay’s actions.
During the same visit, a new residue case emerged involving Frigorífico Tacuarembó, where imidocarb residues were detected. Imidocarb is an antiparasitic drug used to treat tick fever and carries a slaughter withdrawal period of 213 days.
“This involved production dating back to February,” Domínguez clarified.
He added that the measures already implemented—including regulatory changes, intensified on-farm inspections, slaughterhouse sampling programs and the introduction of octagonal warning labels on veterinary medicines highlighting withdrawal periods—also cover this product. Frigorífico Tacuarembó remains eligible to export to China.
Regarding Frigorífico San Jacinto, which remains suspended, Chinese authorities committed during the visit to move forward with their evaluation process and expressed satisfaction with the measures adopted by Uruguay. No timeline has yet been established for the plant’s reinstatement.
Rosario and Abasto de Carnes Saturno, which were suspended under China's Decree 248 due to inactivity, are also undergoing evaluation for reinstatement. Updated technical dossiers and video documentation have already been submitted to the Chinese veterinary authorities.
