Less than a month after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) implemented a ban on fresh beef from Brazil, officials from the South American country are seeking a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to discuss the matter.

Brazilian Agriculture Minister Blairo Maggi confirmed the request with Reuters Friday.

Brazilian officials are said to begin their mission to meet with Perdue July 13.

A meeting could take place Monday, July 17, according to Reuters.

Perdue announced the suspension of fresh beef imports from Brazil June 22 due to public health concerns and failed sanitary inspections.

At the time, the secretary said the suspension will stay in place until Maggi takes corrective action the U.S. finds satisfactory.

That day, Maggi responded on Twitter with, “About the temporary U.S. ban on Brazilian exports of fresh meat, we are aware, and we’re going to fight for that market.”

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) began inspecting all meat imports from Brazil in March. From that point until the ban went into effect in June, FSIS reportedly denied entry to 11 percent, or 1.9 million pounds, of fresh beef imported from Brazil.

According to USDA, 11 percent is “substantially higher” than the rejection rate of imports from the rest of the world, which is about one percent.
Prior to the ban, Brazil was the fifth largest supplier of beef to the U.S.

The U.S. is the ninth biggest market for Brazilian beef.

China, Mexico, Chile, Japan, Hong Kong and the European Union all banned beef imports from Brazil after allegations of bribery came to light.

Federal officials in Brazil reported in March they were investigating allegations that producers bribed government inspectors to approve the sale of meat, even when it was spoiled, according to Bloomberg.

The Brazilian government is also investigating abscesses reportedly found on meat that are believed to be linked to vaccines for foot-and-mouth disease.

Brazil is free of the disease, according to Reuters, and is allowed to use vaccinations for it. Brazilian ranchers reportedly blame the abscesses on the government requiring the vaccines.

Maggi told Reuters they are mapping the entire country through regional offices to identify potential issues. An industry group representing makers of the veterinary medicine in the country say it is very unlikely the abscesses came from the vaccines.

In the meantime, Maggi said Brazilian officials are taking corrective actions and are still committed to increasing exports.