Brazil-based meat processor Minerva has received clearance to ship fresh beef to the US.

Minerva said its slaughtering units in the southern city of Barretos and further north in Palmeiras de Goiás had secured approval from officials in both countries.

This summer, Brasilia and Washington agreed to open their markets to beef imports from both countries. Marfrig, another Brazil-based processor, said the deal could “transform” the Latin American country’s beef sector,

In a statement to the Brazilian stock market last week, Minerva said: The US import system is based on specific quotas depending on the country or group of countries, and Brazil has not yet been assigned a quota. Therefore, the country will initially be included under the Other quota (with a total equivalent to 64,800 ton/year), where countries such as Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, together, are also able to export to [the] USA.”