Egypt has temporarily suspended permits for new imports of meat from Brazil, according to Bloomberg. Saudi Arabia, the world’s second-largest buyer of Brazil’s chicken, ordered new inspections of meat from Brazil after allegations that “exporters bribed local inspectors to approve tainted meat for sale.” China has temporarily suspended shipments from the South American country, while the European Union, Chile, and Japan have restricted purchases. At home, “Egypt is tightening inspection rules at ports and is holding off on issuing new import permits until results of Brazil’s investigation,” according to the Agriculture Ministry’s spokesperson. Egypt is Brazil’s second-largest market for beef after China and ahead of Russia, Bloomberg data shows.

The meat producers’ division at the Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI) objected to the ban, arguing that the move risks driving up meat prices, especially with Ramadan approaching, according to AMAY. An Agriculture Ministry official tells Al Shorouk, however, that the Egyptian market is “flooded” with rotten Brazilian meat, as around 25% of Egypt’s meat imports come from Brazil. He urged authorities to act quickly and preemptively to avoid any fallout.