MARFRIG - CHILE Chile, the South American country on the Pacific, enjoys a privileged sanitary status, similar to Australia's and New Zealand's. The Andes Montains and the Pacific Ocean are natural sanitary barriers which allowed it to be free from foot-and-mouth disease for more than 20 years. It has signed free-trade tretaies with EU, U.S.A, Canada, Mexico and other contries, allowing to export bone in beef, lamb and pork sheep to the world's most demanding markets. During the last 20 years, Marfrig has strived to develop several distribution channels with its customers, becoming one of the main players on Chilean market. Now, Marfrig imports more than 14 beef tons a year, reaching a large number of clients, partners, through its distributors in a wide range of products. Recently, Marfrig bought the Frigorifico Patagonia S.A., situated in the southern most tip of the country, on Tierra del Fuego Island, where is produced the country's best lamb.