EU to reopen market for Brazil's chicken meat after bird flu outbreak

SAO PAULO, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The European Union will reopen its market to Brazil's chicken meat, lifting a ban imposed in May after a bird flu outbreak in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil's agriculture ministry said in a statement on Monday.

The EU plans for a phased resumption starting Tuesday, the ministry said. All Brazilian regions but Rio Grande do Sul are cleared to ship immediately, while most of that state can export starting October 2.

At the same time, the government added, China kicked off an audit to assess Brazil's sanitary controls, a key step toward lifting its own ban. China is the last major importer still maintaining restrictions on Brazilian chicken meat imports after the outbreak.