In the meetings, Mr Turra sought the opening of the European market for pork from the agricultural industries of Santa Catarina state, in southern Brazil.

The state is recognised by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) as Foot and Mouth Disease-free without vaccination, which may help with the negotiations.

Mr Turra said that he was trying to "overcome unjustifiable resistance" to Brazilian pork.

"We want to reduce dependence on shipments of Brazilian pig agribusinesses of the Eastern European countries," he said.

Mr Turra also commented on the need to develop an agreement between Mercosur (the trading bloc comprised of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela) and the European Union.

"Europeans are working to close agreements with several countries, such as Canada, USA, Thailand and others.

"They reiterated the importance in this context of streamlining for the consolidation of an agreement between the countries of the two blocs, which is crucial not to lose space in this market," he said.

One positive point shown in the meetings was the good image that the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture has with the European bloc.