Brazil’s leading animal protein export associations have asked the Ministry of Agriculture to expand restrictions on the use of antimicrobials in animal production, seeking to strengthen the country’s position in negotiations with the European Union following the suspension of Brazilian animal protein imports effective September.
The Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA) requested a ban on the use of enramycin, avilamycin, and flavomycin in poultry production, while the Brazilian Beef Exporters Association (Abiec) proposed adding sodium monensin, salinomycin, lasalocid, and narasin to the list of restricted substances in cattle production.
The requests follow measures adopted in April by the Ministry of Agriculture, which prohibited the importation, manufacture, commercialization, and use of growth-promoting additives containing avoparcin, bacitracin, zinc bacitracin, bacitracin methylene disalicylate, and virginiamycin.
In a joint statement, ABPA and Abiec said the broader restrictions are intended to align Brazilian regulations with international standards and strengthen the country’s position in trade negotiations, particularly with the European Union. The Ministry of Agriculture has not yet commented on the request, according to Pecuária.
