EU suspends imports of animal products from Brazil over health concerns

From Thursday, the European Union will suspend imports from Brazil of several products of animal origin, including beef and poultry. Eggs and honey are also affected. Brussels considers that it does not have, at this stage, sufficient guarantees on Brazil's compliance with European health requirements concerning the use of antimicrobials in livestock farming.

European regulations notably prohibit the use of antimicrobials to promote animal growth or increase yields. It also excludes the use, on farms, of treatments reserved for certain human infections. These rules are part of the policy to combat antibiotic resistance, while drug-resistant infections are directly responsible for more than a million deaths per year worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.

A variable suspension depending on the product

The European Commission, however, ensures that it will continue its discussions with Brasilia. “Brazil is an important partner of the EU and we are working closely, constructively and positively, with the Brazilian authorities to ensure their compliance with these requirements. Once this compliance has been demonstrated, exports to the EU will be able to resume,” a spokesperson for the European executive said on Monday.

The duration of the suspension may vary depending on the product. An audit of poultry and honey is due to be completed on Friday. If it is conclusive and obtains the agreement of European states, poultry exports to the EU could resume in the following weeks. For beef, the process could take longer. “Due to the length of production cycles depending on the animal species concerned, the date from which Brazil could be able to certify its compliance with EU requirements varies depending on the sector,” specifies the Commission.

A major commercial issue for Brazil

The decision comes a few months after the signing, in January 2026, of the free trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur countries, which brings together Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. This agreement sparked strong criticism from the agricultural sector and from France, particularly on the question of compliance with the standards imposed on products entering the European market.

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