CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC) — The temporary ban placed on the importation of corned beef from Brazil has been lifted by the Government of St Lucia.

Chief Environmental Health officer, Wenn Grabriel on Thursday said following the analysis of information from various authoritative sources, including the Brazilian authorities, the decision was made.

He said that the Brazilian authorities, by way of a criminal investigation dubbed “Operation Weak Flesh” found that no meat processing establishment under investigation in “operation weak flesh “ had exported corned beef or any other meat or meat products to St Lucia over the last six months.

He also said that information received from the Brazilian government and other regional authorities support the finding that there is not a significant risk of exposure to the unwholesome corned beef and meat products in question.

Based on the findings, the government has lifted the restriction and has released all corned beef that was placed in detention.

Meanwhile, in St Kitts Nevis, the Chief Veterinarian Dr Tracey Challenger says the ban imposed on corned beef imported to the federation will remain in effect until the results of tests carried out by local authorities are received.

She told WINN FM that she expects to receive the results shortly and then a decision will be made as to whether or not the ban on the importation of the product and order to remove them from store shelves imposed on March 24 will be lifted.

Several of the countries that also banned corned beef and other meat products originating from Brazil lifted their bans up to three weeks ago, while others, such as Jamaica and Dominica lifted theirs less than two weeks ago.