SAO PAULO, Feb 29 (Reuters) - Anffa, a union group representing Brazilian health auditors who oversee meat plants, said auditors would continue protesting work conditions pending a new round of talks with the government to negotiate better contract terms, according to a statement on Thursday.
The auditors' labor action has been disrupting issuance of international health certificates, affecting Brazilian meat exports.
The protest began on Jan. 22 and the parties are expected to hold new talks next week at a yet to be defined date, Anffa said.
"We continue with negotiations, with our mobilization," Janus Macedo, head of the union, said in the statement.
Anffa said it would internally discuss details of the government's proposal to improve auditors' work conditions and submit it to a national general assembly.
ABPA, which represents pork and poultry processors like JBS and BRF, said it believes talks will be concluded soon.
"We hope that the support from Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro and his team will pave the way for the quick return to normality of processes that impact the animal protein sectors," ABPA said in a statement.
Anffa's head told Reuters last week the government needs to raise the number of federal health auditors by at least 1,700 to keep up with Brazil's $23 billion meat export industry.
At the moment health auditors total 2,300 nationwide and they are "overburdened," he said. (Reporting by Ana Mano; Editing by Steven Grattan and Leslie Adler)
