Entity says that decision has no technical basis and serves to undermine Brazil’s competitiveness in the sector
A (Federation of Agriculture and Livestock of the State of São Paulo) charged “firmer pulse” of the federal government in light of the decision of the (European Union) to restrict the purchase of meat, honey and animal by-products from Brazil. In a note released on Friday (June 5, 2026), the entity condemned the measure and stated that the barriers imposed by the European bloc are “unreasonable and arbitraryLet’s go (PDF – 852 kB)
The demonstration took place after the European Union on Friday (June 5), the removal of Brazil from the list of countries authorized to export beef, chicken and horse meat, as well as tripe, fish and honey, to the bloc. With the decision, Brazilian shipments will be prohibited from September 3rd. The European Commission states that the country did not provide sufficient guarantees of compliance with the bloc’s rules on the use of antimicrobials in livestock farming.
In the note, Faesp stated that the decision has “noballast or technical and scientific support” and classified the measure as a “bureaucratic maneuver” to create barriers to international trade.
The federation challenged the European argument about the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry. According to the entity, Brazil’s direct competitors, such as the United States, Australia and New Zealand, use the same products and have not been subject to similar restrictions by the European Union.
“Faesp considers this measure to be absolutely unnecessary, unfair and blatantly discriminatory”, stated the entity. For the federation, the difference in treatment is actually “unilateral trade protectionism” to curb Brazilian competitiveness.
The European Union says its rules prohibit the use of to stimulate growth or increase animal performance. The bloc also prohibits the use of medicines considered essential for the treatment of human infections.
According to the European Commission, the measure seeks to combat so-called antimicrobial resistance – in 2022 by the European Commission and the Member States as one of the 3 main priority health threats for the bloc.
For Faesp, Brazil cannot passively accept being the target of what it called “unfounded geopolitical retaliations“For the entity, the production sector needs legal security, respect for clear trade defense rules and policies.
The federation also defended a coordinated reaction from Mercosur. According to the note, Argentina and Uruguay should join Brazil to build a regional position in relation to the European Union. The entity stated that the bloc needs “respond appropriately” of the European decision.
The note is signed by Tirso Meirelles, president of Faesp. In the text, the entity states that Brazilian rural producers do their part “with excellence and responsibility” and that it is up to Brazilian diplomacy and regional allies to defend the position of national agriculture in the international market.
The restriction has a potential impact on one of the main Brazilian meat markets. In 2025, the European Union purchased 368.1 thousand tons of meat from Brazil, totaling US$1.8 billion, equivalent to around R$9.3 billion. The bloc is the 2nd largest buyer of meat in the country, behind only China.
