Bloc says country does not comply with rules against excessive use of antimicrobials in livestock farming
The European Union made official, on Friday (June 5, 2026), the decision to remove Brazil from the list of countries that comply with the rules against the excessive use of antimicrobials in livestock farming and that, therefore, can export meat to the bloc. Here’s the of document (387 kB – PDF).
With the measure, Brazil is prohibited from exporting meat to the European Union from September 3rd.
The block which would remove Brazil from the list of countries authorized to export beef, chicken and horse meat, as well as tripe, fish and honey.
According to the document published on Friday (June 5), Brazil did not present information required by the European Commission to ensure that the country’s meat and other products of animal origin comply with EU requirements on antimicrobials.
These substances are often applied to livestock farming to treat or prevent infections and accelerate herd growth.
EU legislation prohibits the use of antimicrobials to stimulate the growth or increase performance of animals, in addition to prohibiting the use of medicines considered essential for the treatment of human infections.
The exclusion of Brazil from the list has a direct impact on the trade balance of Brazilian agribusiness. The EU is currently the 2nd largest purchasing market for meat in Brazil, behind only China.
When considering only beef, the European bloc is the 3rd main destination, surpassed by China and the USA, according to the (Brazilian Agribusiness Foreign Trade Statistics System).
The other Mercosur countries (Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay) remain authorized to export beef to the European Union.
O Poder360 questioned Itamaraty and the Ministry of Agriculture about the European Union’s decision to make the veto official, but received no response until the publication of this report. This text will be updated as soon as any comments are received.
