The European Union has announced plans to prohibit meat imports from Brazil starting on September 3, linking the decision to Brazil’s use of antibiotics for growth promotion. This move will occur unless Brazilian producers can show adherence to safety regulations by the deadline. Notably, this announcement follows the tentative opening of a controversial free trade deal with Mercosur about two weeks prior.
During a vote on Tuesday, the EU Commission unanimously decided to exclude Brazil from the list of nations authorized to export animal products for human consumption. This makes Brazil the first country removed from the list concerning EU regulations on antibiotic usage in livestock.
“The European Commission has confirmed that Brazil is not included in the list. So, from September 3, 2026, Brazil will no longer export goods to the EU like cattle, horses, poultry, eggs, aquaculture, honey, and casings—both live animals and their products,” remarked Iva Funchilova, spokesperson for the European Commission’s health sector.
EU food safety regulations specifically prohibit the use of antibiotics to enhance animal growth. This rule is applicable to both EU producers and those importing goods. Thus, Brazil must comply with these regulations during the entire lifespan of the animal, as noted by Funcilova.
Earlier this year, the EU and the Latin American trading group Mercosur reached a free trade agreement, concluding nearly 25 years of negotiations. As a founding member of Mercosur, Brazil stands to gain from reduced barriers and export provisions to European markets under this agreement. Despite strong opposition from European farmers concerned about unfair competition, the European Commission approved the deal in January.
The agreement is set to provisionally take effect on May 1, 2026, though it awaits a potential ruling from the EU Court of Justice, which could take roughly two years. Additional legal challenges have also been raised concerning the agreement, and a future ban could create further complications in the already intricate EU-Mercosur discussions. According to a Polish government report, the EU is projected to become the third-largest export destination for Brazilian beef by 2025, following the US and China.
“Trade agreements do not alter our regulations,” said Funtilova, adding that the European Commission maintains set sanitary and phytosanitary standards for all producers, including those from third countries.
The Brazilian government expressed surprise at the upcoming ban in an official statement. They reversed an earlier stance and emphasized their intention to take necessary measures to ensure continued beef exports to Europe, noting that exports were still active prior to the ban.
A meeting between Brazil’s diplomatic mission to the EU and health officials is scheduled for Wednesday to address the situation.
The Brazilian government concluded its statement by highlighting the country’s strong healthcare system and its position as the world’s leading exporter of animal protein, making it a significant supplier of agricultural products to Europe.
The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), one of the groups opposing the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, welcomed the EU’s decision against Brazil. IFA president Francie Gorman recalled their involvement in an independent investigation in Brazil regarding the concerning use of antibiotics in beef farming and noted that their findings were submitted to the EU.
Mercosur, established in 1991, includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, among other regional nations as associate members. While Venezuela was granted full membership in 2012, it was suspended in 2016 due to serious human rights violations by its government and breaches of Mercosur’s trade regulations under now-overthrown leader Nicolás Maduro.
