China poised to approve more Brazilian meatpacking plants, minister says

In an interview with Valor, André de Paula said he was continuing negotiations with Brussels to reopen the European market to animal products as soon as possible, but acknowledged that the Europeans had not changed their position on beef. The resumption of sales could take two years.

Meanwhile, the possibility of banning antimicrobials in Brazil remains under discussion within the government, following a request from the meatpacking industry. “They [private companies] know that any decision made here will involve the full participation of all sides,” he said.

The minister said the technical team was still trying to persuade European health authorities to change their position on assessing guarantees that antimicrobials are not used in livestock production. Under the bloc’s current position, imports of Brazilian beef can only resume in at least two years. This is because the EU wants guarantees that antimicrobials are not used throughout the animals’ entire life cycle.

The UK, which has maintained its imports of Brazilian beef, will send a team of technical experts to Brazil in October to assess the country’s sanitary system and controls on antimicrobial use in livestock production. The expectation is that the British audit will provide technical backing for Brazil’s arguments.

“One does not influence the other’s decision, but it is an indication of how Brazil should be treated,” said Carlos Goulart, the secretary of Agricultural Defense.

“For beef, they [Europeans] continue to follow the approach we have already criticized, which requires the control and guarantee system to be operated first and then submitted for assessment. Under this model, the process takes two years,” Goulart said. He noted that the same procedure was followed for poultry, whose production cycle lasts 42 days.

“Brazil cannot accept this treatment, which requires it to submit a production-chain control process covering an entire cycle and only then present it to the European side,” he said.

Brazil’s request will gain further support following the Europeans’ approval, without reservations, of the control and guarantee system for antimicrobial use in poultry meat and honey. The audit results were published on Monday.

Brazil wants the report to be put to a vote by the European Commission’s technical committee, known as Scopaff, “as quickly as possible,” the minister said, so that the country can once again be listed among the suppliers authorized to export to the EU. The next meeting is scheduled for October 20 and 21, but Brazil has formally requested an extraordinary session.

“All of this will be handled as quickly as possible because this issue has been addressed not only from a technical standpoint but also politically. They could not take a position without having this technical report, but once the vote takes place, we believe they may accelerate the decision,” De Paula said.

In the case of eggs, the production cycle lasts eight months. Another European audit is expected to be scheduled to assess the controls at the end of that period. Fishery products, which recently underwent a sanitary inspection as part of efforts to reopen a market that has been closed since 2017, will also require a new assessment. However, no antimicrobials are approved for use in Brazil’s fishery sector.

While awaiting further developments with the EU, the minister expressed optimism about China. He said he believes the Asian country will approve additional Brazilian meatpacking plants in 2026 and may authorize imports of beef offal.

On Tuesday (29), China announced the approval of two beef processing plants: Supremo Carnes, in Carlos Chagas, Minas Gerais state, and Masterboi, in Canhotinho, Pernambuco state. It also approved two poultry plants: Avivar Alimentos, in São Sebastião do Oeste, Minas Gerais, and Cooperativa Dália Alimentos, in Arroio do Meio, Rio Grande do Sul.

The minister said there had been no new negotiations with China to expand Brazil’s beef export quota or to allow Brazil to use unused volumes allocated to other countries, such as Uruguay. On Tuesday (29), China’s General Administration of Customs officially announced that Brazil had filled 100% of its 2026 quota of 1.106 million tonnes.

Last week, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi announced an agreement allowing Brazilian meatpacking plants to use part of Uruguay’s unfilled quota. The outcome depends on China’s approval, the minister emphasized.