Uruguay’s Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP), in officially announcing the suspension of exports from Frigorífico Tacuarembó to China as of August 6, said it had launched a “thorough investigation” to determine the origin of the incident and identify the livestock farms involved. It also stressed that no similar non-compliance cases have so far been recorded at other meatpacking plants in the country.
The ministry detailed the measures it has been implementing during 2026 to strengthen controls over the use of veterinary medicines.
Among them is Decree No. 88/2026, which expanded the investigative and intervention powers of the General Directorate of Livestock Services and authorized preventive restrictions on the movement of animals destined for slaughter.
Other measures include intensified controls at livestock farms, increased official sampling at meatpacking plants, strengthened traceability procedures following non-compliant results, and the introduction of warning octagons on veterinary medicine packaging to clearly indicate the required withdrawal period.
The ministry also recalled the “Producing well also means knowing how to wait” campaign, which it is carrying out together with INAC to promote the responsible use of veterinary medicines, and stressed that preventing this type of incident requires the commitment of the entire supply chain: producers, veterinarians, industry associations and meatpackers.
China suspended Frigorífico Tacuarembó following a second detection of the veterinary drug imidocarb above permitted thresholds. The first case was reported on May 19.
The ministry specified that the withdrawal period established in Uruguay for imidocarb, used to treat bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis, is 213 days between administration and shipment to slaughter.
