Brazil creates certification protocol to protect beef exports to EU

Brazil’s federal government has introduced a new certification protocol aimed at preserving access for Brazilian beef to the European Union market, as the bloc prepares to tighten rules on antimicrobial use in animals destined for export.

Starting Sept. 3, the EU will require guarantees that cattle used in products shipped to the bloc have never received antimicrobials during their lifetime.

Without proof that this requirement has been met, Brazil would remain off the list of countries authorized to export animal products to the European Union under the new rules. The Ministry of Agriculture’s strategy is to create a certification system capable of meeting the sanitary requirements set by Brussels.

The measure was formalized on May 29 with the creation of the Certification Protocol for Cattle Free from the Use of Antimicrobial Medicines.

Datamar container export data shows the volume shipped between January and April 2026. In the period, 2,722 TEUs were sent to the European Union, representing an increase of 28.45% compared with the previous year.

Beef Exports to the European Union | Jan 2023 – Apr 2026 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Participation in the protocol will be voluntary, but it will be required for cattle producers seeking to supply beef to the European market.

The process requires producers to hire a certification company accredited by the Ministry of Agriculture, sign an adhesion agreement and submit sanitary and nutritional plans for the farm. Producers will also have to prove control over the use of prohibited medicines throughout the animals’ lifetime.

After reviewing the documents and inspecting the farm, the certifier may issue the certificate within seven days.

Despite the approaching EU deadline, no farms have yet been certified under the new system.

One of the main challenges involves monensin, a substance widely used in feedlot cattle diets to improve animal performance.

The EU rules restrict the use of antimicrobials throughout the production chain for animals destined for export. They also require traceability and proof that cattle have not received this type of medicine.

Source: InfoMoney

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