EU suspends Brazilian meat imports over antibiotics

The European Union will suspend imports of Brazilian meat and other animal products starting Thursday, September 3, 2026, citing concerns over the country's compliance with the bloc's rules on antibiotic use in livestock. The measure, announced on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, affects a wide range of commodities, including bovine, equine, poultry, eggs, aquaculture products, honey, and casings. European officials stated that Brazil has not provided sufficient guarantees regarding the use of antimicrobials in its livestock industry. The EU bans the use of antimicrobials for growth promotion and restricts the use of antibiotics reserved for human medicine, measures aimed at curbing antimicrobial resistance. Brazil's failure to demonstrate compliance with these standards has led to its removal from the list of third countries authorized to export animal products to the EU. The suspension is described as a regulatory delisting rather than a food safety alert. While the ban takes effect on September 3, an audit of Brazil's compliance with EU antimicrobial rules is currently underway and is expected to conclude by Friday, September 4, 2026.