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BRASILIA: Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed a law late on Thursday to ban the sale and production of the French delicacy foie gras in the South American country, citing animal cruelty.
France considers foie gras traditionally made from fattened duck and goose livers part of its culinary heritage, but animal rights activists have condemned the practice of force-feeding ducks or geese to enlarge their livers.
Brazil’s foie gras production is tiny, so the ban on sales will effectively end imports of the luxury food from France.
When lawmakers approved the ban in April, French diplomats stepped up pressure on Lula to veto the bill, according to a Brazilian diplomat.
