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Brazil’s ambassador to the EU Pedro Miguel da Costa e Silva told Euronews that the EU’s decision to ban meat imports from Brazil from September was “a surprise” and that Brasilia had engaged with the European Commission to reverse the move.
Da Costa e Silva’s comments came a day after a committee of EU national experts voted to ban imports of Brazilian meat over the use of antimicrobials to stimulate animal growth.
The decision was taken just a few days after the EU-Mercosur free-trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur countries – Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina -provisionally entered into force to liberalise trade in agricultural products.
“The decision came as a surprise to us yesterday,” da Costa e Silva told Euronews.
Brazil is the first country to be removed from the list of states complying with EU food safety standards on antimicrobials.
“We have started a technical dialogue with the Commission to reverse Brazil’s exclusion from the list,” da Costa e Silva added, saying his team had met with the European Commission’s health Directorate General to “obtain explanations” about the decision.
Free trade of agricultural products between the EU and Mercosur remains highly contentious, with EU farmers warning that lower production standards in Mercosur countries could create unfair competition.
The ban on Brazilian imports will cover commodities including live food-producing animals and derived products, such as beef, poultry, eggs, aquaculture and honey, and will take effect from 3 September 2026.
“To be included in the list of third countries authorised to export to the Union, Brazil must ensure compliance with the Union requirements on the use of antimicrobials for the entire lifetime of the animals that the exported products originate from,” Commission spokesperson Eva Hrncirova told Euronews.
Hrncirova said the Commission had already worked closely with Brazilian authorities on the issue. “Once compliance is demonstrated, the EU will be able to authorise/resume the exports,” she added.
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