Brazil meat ban ‘reversing expectations’ of EU-Mercosur deal, ambassador warns

The European Commission suspended imports of meat and other food products from Brazil last week over concerns about antimicrobial ​substances used in production, in a move that impacts millions of euros’ worth of Brazilian exports.

Ambassador Pedro Miguel da Costa e Silva told Euronews that the ban targets “sensitive products” which Brazil and other South American negotiators made significant concessions to include in the EU-Mercosur trade deal signed earlier this year, and which are subject to steep quotas.

“If we stop exporting bovine meat, poultry, honey, we are losing. There is a reversal of expectations of what we thought the [EU-Mercosur] agreement was going to be for us,” the ambassador said, explaining that while the suspension is not related to the quality of Brazilian food exports, there is a risk it could be “distorted” as part of an ongoing “disinformation campaign against Brazil” and its production standards.

Source: Euronews