The EU keeps Brazil off animal protein exporters list
According to the European Commission, Brazil failed to provide, within the required deadline, information deemed sufficient to demonstrate the implementation of controls concerning the non-use of certain antimicrobials in export supply chains.
EU confirms authorised exporters
The European requirement took shape in October 2024, when the EU published a regulation requiring exporting countries to provide formal guarantees of compliance with new rules governing the use of antimicrobials.
The measure published this month consolidates the assessments carried out since then and confirms which countries have met the requirements. A total of 92 countries and territories remain authorised to export at least 1 animal-origin product to the European Union. They include Mercosur partners such as Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay, as well as countries with far less established animal protein export sectors, including Tunisia, Kenya and Uganda.
Brazil disputes decision
The Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA) argues that there are no sanitary concerns regarding Brazilian production or the use of antimicrobials as growth promoters in products exported to the bloc. According to the organisation, the issue is not related to residues or non-compliance in shipments, but rather to the European Union’s acceptance of Brazil’s mechanisms for demonstrating compliance.
“Brazil fully complies with all European Union requirements, including those related to antimicrobial regulations. This is what Brazil will demonstrate to the European sanitary authorities,” the association said.
ABPA also notes that Brazil has been exporting poultry meat to Europe for around 4 decades and that there are no records of sanitary non-compliance in shipments to the bloc that would justify such a measure. The sector maintains that the country has robust traceability systems, veterinary oversight and controls over the use of animal medicines.
Talks fail to resolve dispute
In recent weeks, Brazilian authorities have attempted to persuade European officials to reverse the restriction on Brazilian exports. Beef remains the most critical issue, but discussions on controls for poultry, aquaculture products and honey have also failed to make progress.
Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) presented European authorities with a proposal for a transition period, alongside a private certification protocol for antimicrobial-free cattle exports. The voluntary scheme monitors animals throughout their entire lifespan, from birth to slaughter, certifying that they have not been treated with any medicines prohibited by the EU.
However, European authorities have shown little willingness to accept Brazil’s arguments. The proposal envisaged that full compliance controls would be implemented by 2029, allowing the certification of animals born in 2026 and slaughtered at approximately 3 years of age.
EU-Mercosur deal under scrutiny
The publication came only days after the provisional entry into force of the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement. Among Brazilian producers and exporters, the measure has been interpreted as a sign of protectionism aimed at appeasing European farmers.
Producers in countries such as France, Ireland and Poland have repeatedly voiced opposition to increasing agricultural imports from Mercosur.
For poultry meat, the agreement grants Mercosur an initial duty-free quota of 15,000 tonnes of bone-in cuts and 15,000 tonnes of boneless cuts. According to ABPA president Ricardo Santin, these volumes will gradually increase over 6 years to reach 90,000 tonnes for each category, or 180,000 tonnes in total. The EU consumes around 12.3 million tonnes of poultry annually, meaning the quota accounts for slightly less than 1.5% of total consumption. The bloc also imports around 800,000 tonnes of poultry meat each year.
“In volume terms it is not significant, but it is a market with attractive pricing, which helps companies’ margins. How much of the quota Brazil will ultimately receive is still under discussion among Mercosur countries,” he said.