UK may follow EU in restricting Brazilian meat imports

After the European Union confirmed on Friday that Brazil will be removed from the list of countries authorized to export animal products to the bloc starting September 3, the United Kingdom may also adopt similar restrictions.

On Friday, the EU published in its Official Journal new regulations governing restrictions on the use of antimicrobial drugs in the production of beef, poultry, fish, and honey.

The publication, signed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, formalized a decision taken on May 12 by the bloc’s Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food, and Feed. At that meeting, the committee removed Brazil from the approved-country list, citing non-compliance with rules governing the use of antimicrobials in animal production.

The measure, which would ban exports of products including beef, chicken, fish, and honey, could result in losses of as much as $2 billion for Brazil.

The Brazilian government is seeking to reverse the EU’s decision but faces significant obstacles. Officials in Brasília believe the issue will require political engagement beyond technical discussions. Sources say that the matter could be elevated to Brazil’s presidential office for direct negotiations with the European Commission.

The document published Friday updated the list of countries that have failed to provide assurances regarding controls over the absence of prohibited antimicrobials in products exported to Europe.

According to the publication, Brazil did not provide the European Commission with information demonstrating that it had implemented the measures necessary to ensure compliance, by September 3, 2026, with requirements prohibiting the use of certain antimicrobials in the production of cattle, horses, poultry, aquaculture products, honey, and casings.

The EU prohibits imports of animal products from animals treated with antibiotics used to promote growth or increase production yields, as well as products containing substances classified as medicines reserved for the treatment of human infections.

The United Kingdom, which left the EU in 2020, has been pursuing closer regulatory alignment with the bloc in sanitary and phytosanitary matters and is also expected to apply the same requirements to Brazil.

A memorandum sent last week by Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture to federal agricultural inspectors working at federally inspected facilities reinforced that procedures adopted to comply with EU legislation also apply to the United Kingdom. The measures cover the certification of poultry meat and poultry products, beef and beef products, horse meat, casings, fish, honey, and eggs.

“From September 3, 2026 onward, only products considered compliant with the antimicrobial-use requirements established under European legislation may be certified for export to the European Union and the United Kingdom,” the document obtained by Valor states.

According to a source familiar with the matter, the United Kingdom has asked Brazil to provide assurances regarding compliance with antimicrobial-use regulations by September 2.

According to Datamar data, Brazil’s containerized beef exports to the United Kingdom rose 49% from the first four months of 2025. The chart below shows the monthly volumes:

Beef Exports to the United Kingdom | Jan 2023 – Apr 2026 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

In recent weeks, Brazilian authorities have sought to persuade the EU to reverse the export restrictions. Sources say the most critical issue involves beef, although discussions concerning poultry, fish, and honey controls have also failed to advance.

Last week, Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture presented European officials with a recently approved private certification protocol for cattle raised without prohibited antimicrobials. According to a source, European authorities have shown little willingness to accept Brazil’s arguments.

Even if the private protocol were accepted, there would not be sufficient time to certify any animals before September.

The formal adoption of the measure on Friday, combined with the lack of tangible progress in negotiations between Brasília and Brussels so far, underscores the difficulty Brazil faces in convincing European authorities to reverse course.

Fonte: Valor International

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