In addition to beef, the EU will also ban poultry, eggs, honey, and offal from Brazil. The measure takes effect despite calls from Brazil to postpone or reverse it.

The suspension of Brazilian beef has reportedly been confirmed by the office of the European Commissioner for Animal Health and Welfare, Oliver Varhelyi, in a statement released by Irish MEP Ciaran Mullooly. The MEP said the European Commission confirmed that food safety issues had not been resolved, in a post on the social media platform X.

Brussels also said it may lift the suspension if Brazil demonstrates compliance with the European Union’s requirements.

Reasons for the suspension

The suspension is due to European rules on the use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals. It was reportedly in May that the European Union removed Brazil from the list of third countries authorised to export animal products for human consumption, stipulating that the decision would come into force on 3 September.

The European Commission is reported to have concluded that Brazil had not provided sufficient guarantees of compliance with European requirements regarding the use of antimicrobials throughout the life cycle of exported animals.

In other words, the European Union does not permit certain medicines to be administered to animals. The medicines in question are used to promote animal growth and increase their yield. The European Union also restricts the use of antimicrobials reserved for treating diseases in humans.

Possibility of reversal

Although the measure is already in force, the European Commission has warned that imports may resume, assuring that it will remain in constant contact with the Brazilian authorities.

The spokesperson for the European Commission, Paula Pinho, assured at a press conference that she has confidence in Brazil and its commitment to resolving the situation. Eva Hrncirova, the European Commission’s spokesperson for health, stated that the suspension does not definitively bring the process to a close.