Brazil defies EU over antimicrobial controls, urging trust in inspection systems

Brazil’s agriculture ministry challenges the EU’s antimicrobial requirements for meat exports, insisting trade should be based on trust rather than proof, as tensions escalate over sanitary standards.

Brazil’s agriculture ministry has escalated its dispute with the European Union over antimicrobial controls in meat production, calling Brussels’ demand for prior proof of full compliance “unacceptable” and arguing that sanitary trade rules should rest on trust in official inspection systems.

In a statement on Thursday, the ministry said Brazil should remain on the EU’s list of authorised exporters even if some animals will not yet be ready for export by 3 September, the date from which shipments are due to be barred under the bloc’s rules. It said the country has already presented technical documentation covering beef, poultry, eggs, honey and fish products, but that Brussels has not yet issued a final response.

Reuters reported earlier this month that the ministry had adjusted export controls to introduce auditable checks and traceability requirements for establishments supplying the EU, signalling an attempt to avoid a suspension. That shift reflects the practical difficulty of proving compliance across production cycles that can take months or, in cattle, years.

Industry executives have backed the ministry’s hard line, saying the issue is not whether eligible animals exist immediately, but whether Brazil retains recognised access to the market. The EU imported 128,000 tonnes of Brazilian beef worth about $1bn in 2025, while broader protein trade totalled $1.8bn.