EU rules out easing sanitary requirements for return of Brazilian meat exports

The European Union does not plan to relax its sanitary requirements to allow Brazilian meat and other animal products back into the European market, Ireland’s ambassador to Brazil, Martin Gallagher, told news website g1.

Gallagher said the rules governing the use of antimicrobials in animal production were already known to Brazilian authorities and had been under discussion between Brazil and the European Union for several years.

“These requirements concerning standards for antimicrobial use are not new,” Gallagher told g1 on Sunday, July 20. “They have been known for a long time, and the European Union has been discussing them with the Brazilian authorities for some time.”

The ambassador described the removal of Brazil from the list of countries authorized to export animal products to the bloc as a technical decision.

He said shipments could resume once the Brazilian government establishes a system capable of meeting the sanitary requirements set out in EU legislation.

Gallagher noted that other South American countries remain eligible to export because they have met the bloc’s criteria.

“The rule is very simple: countries that meet the standards remain on the list; those that do not are removed,” he said.

Despite the suspension, Gallagher said talks between Brazil and the European Commission remain open. He stressed, however, that responsibility for complying with the rules rests with the exporting country.

Datamar data show that 3,409 TEUs of chilled or frozen beef were shipped to the 27 EU member states between January and May 2026. The chart below shows the monthly volumes recorded in recent years:

Beef Exports to the EU | Jan 2023 – May 2026 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

In June, the European Union formally removed Brazil from its list of countries considered compliant with its requirements on antimicrobial controls in animal production.

The measure takes effect on September 3 and will affect Brazilian exports of beef, poultry, horse meat and other animal products to the bloc.

Last week, the Brazilian Beef Exporters Association, Abiec, said it would be difficult for the industry to meet the new requirements by the deadline.

Source: Notícias Agrícolas

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