March 20 (Reuters) - S.A Department Of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries:
* MINISTER MET WITH TIGER BRANDS CEO ON MONDAY; TAKEN THROUGH CO’S PROCESSES TO RESPOND TO LISTERIOSIS OUTBREAK
* MINISTER WANTED ASSURANCE THAT ESTABLISHMENT WORKING SATISFACTORILY ON CORRECTIVE MEASURES
* TO DATE, NO IMPORTED MECHANICALLY DEBONED MEAT HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES ST6 STRAIN
* AWARE OF CHALLENGES RELATED TO ESTABLISHMENT IN BRAZIL (BRF S/A) UNDER INVESTIGATION BY BRAZILIAN AUTHORITIES
* ENGAGED BRAZILIAN AUTHORITIES, RECEIVED RESPONSE INDICATING THERE ARE 3 ESTABLISHMENTS UNDER INVESTIGATION
* RESPONSE FROM BRAZILIAN AUTHORITIES INDICATE THERE ARE ADDITIONAL 3 LABS THAT SERVICE THE 3 ESTABLISHMENTS
* BRAZILIAN ESTABLISHMENTS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED BY BRAZILIAN AUTHORITIES UNTIL CONCLUSION OF INVESTIGATION
* DEPARTMENT. OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY & FISHERIES SUSPENDED IMPORTS FROM THE ESTABLISHMENTS (Reuters.Briefs@thomsonreuters.com)