European Union suspends imports of Brazilian beef and poultry

The European Union is suspending Brazilian poultry and beef imports after Brussels said Brazil had failed to provide enough guarantees that its products meet EU rules on antibiotic use in livestock.

The suspension, which begins Thursday, also covers Brazilian eggs and honey. The European Commission has not set a date for resuming imports. An audit of poultry and honey is due to finish Friday, and exports could return within weeks if the review proves satisfactory and EU countries approve the move.

Beef exports may face a longer delay because compliance certification depends on the production cycles of the different animal sectors. EU rules prohibit using antimicrobials to promote growth or increase yields, and prohibit treating animals with drugs reserved for human infections.

The measure comes after the EU faced strong criticism from farmers and France over its January 2026 free-trade agreement with Mercosur, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. Brazil ranked as the bloc’s second-largest beef exporter in 2025, shipping more than 92,000 tonnes of beef products valued at over 713 million euros.

The Commission described Brazil as an important EU partner and said the two sides were working constructively to meet the requirements. It said exports could resume once Brazil demonstrates compliance. The EU links the restrictions to its wider effort to curb antimicrobial resistance, which the World Health Organization says directly causes more than one million deaths each year and contributes to nearly five million additional deaths.

“

Brazil is an important partner of the EU and we are working closely, constructively and positively, with the Brazilian authorities to ensure compliance with these requirements. Once compliance is demonstrated, exports to the EU may resume.