Brazil’s meat industry remains optimistic that the country can regain its authorization to export meat and animal products to the European Union before September.
The sector is betting on progress in technical negotiations between the two sides and on the possible acceptance of a transition period that would allow Brazil to fully adapt its production chain to European requirements regarding antimicrobial use.
Renato Costa, CEO of Friboi and chairman of Abiec, acknowledged that both the livestock sector and the government had shown a degree of “passivity” toward European regulations that have been known for some time. However, he said there is confidence that the technical work led by the Ministry of Agriculture, combined with the political involvement of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, will help deliver a solution.
Costa said the ideal outcome would be for Brazil to return to the list of approved countries while securing a transition period to implement the required control systems.
The proposal currently under discussion involves certification of animals as free from antimicrobials throughout their entire lifetime, a requirement Brazil is unlikely to fully meet before September. At the same time, Abiec and the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA) have recently requested broader restrictions on the use of certain antimicrobials, a move that has drawn criticism from producers and animal health companies because of the limited availability of alternative products.
The European Union imported 128,000 tons of Brazilian beef worth US$ 1 billion in 2025, representing 3.5% of the country’s total export volume. Although Costa acknowledged that a potential ban would affect profitability because Europe purchases higher-value cuts, he said the volumes could be redirected to other markets.
Representatives of the European Union in Brazil noted that the recent creation of a bilateral dialogue mechanism demonstrates a willingness to work alongside the Brazilian government to find a solution.
Source: Globo Rural
