Brazil prepares to resume fishing exports to the European Union

After nearly a decade of restrictions, Brazil’s fishing industry is awaiting a potential turning point in its international trade relations. From June 8 to 19, Brazil will receive a mission from DG SANTE, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, to assess sanitary conditions across the country’s production chain. The visit marks the first official inspection since 2017, when European audits identified non-compliance issues that led to the suspension of exports.

Impact of the voluntary embargo on the production chain

On Jan. 3, 2018, Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture opted for a temporary preventive voluntary embargo to bring the country into line with the European bloc’s strict requirements. Although the measure was necessary for sanitary adjustments, it had deep effects across the industry. According to Francisco Medeiros, president of Peixe BR, the interpretation of the rules at the time ended up unfairly penalizing aquaculture, a sector he said had always maintained high quality-control standards.

Investments in traceability and food safety

During the suspension period, the Brazilian government and the private sector focused efforts on modernizing the country’s hygiene and sanitary control system. According to Abipesca, companies invested heavily in traceability and food safety. The goal was to create a robust certification structure for vessels and processing plants, ensuring that Brazilian products meet the European Union’s strict import criteria.

Logistics and scope of technical inspections

The European delegation will visit several strategic locations to validate the improvements implemented. Inspections will take place at processing units in Pernambuco, Ceará and Paraná. Auditors will also examine industrial fishing vessels in Rio Grande do Norte and Santa Catarina, covering both wild-caught fisheries and aquaculture systems.

Economic expectations and the Mercosur-EU agreement

The resumption of sales to the European market is seen as a key expansion opportunity, as the bloc is Brazil’s second-largest buyer of fishery products, behind only Asia. Estimates from the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture point to a US$250 million increase in Brazilian exports. The sector is also counting on the inclusion of Brazilian fishery products in the Mercosur-European Union trade agreement, which could allow tariff reductions and increase the competitiveness of Brazilian products abroad.

Source: São Bento em Foco

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