Following a unanimous decision by the EU’s Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCOPAFF), Brazil has been removed from the list of countries complying with European food safety standards. European Commission spokesperson Eva Hrnczirzova announced that starting September 3, Brazil will be barred from exporting food-producing animals and derived goods—such as cattle, poultry, horses, eggs, aquaculture products, casings, and honey—to the EU market.
Polish Agriculture Minister Stefan Krajewski welcomed the resolution, noting on the X platform that his ongoing discussions with European counterparts to protect the internal market have proven successful.
The export ban stems from the EU’s stringent regulations on antimicrobial use, designed to combat the growing threat of human antibiotic resistance. In the EU, antibiotics cannot be used preventatively or to promote animal growth. For Brazil to regain access to the European market, it must demonstrate a complete absence of antibiotic use throughout the entire lifecycle of its livestock. The EC has pledged to work closely with Brazilian authorities to help them achieve compliance with these standards.
This significant move comes just weeks after the implementation of the highly debated EU-Mercosur trade agreement. European farmers have long expressed anxiety over this deal, arguing it opens the door to agricultural products that do not adhere to the EU’s strict quality and safety rules. In a related action responding to these fears, Poland filed a formal complaint to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on Monday, seeking an immediate suspension of the Mercosur agreement until a final ruling is made.
