A group of 14 organizations representing Brazil's livestock sector has voiced its opposition to incorporating the European Union's antimicrobial use requirements into Brazilian legislation. The organizations argue that applying those rules across the entire production chain would also affect producers who do not export to the European market.
In a joint statement, the groups said they support the responsible use of antimicrobials based on technical and scientific criteria, stressing that Brazil already has an animal health control system aligned with international standards.
The statement argues that antimicrobials authorized under the Codex Alimentarius, the international reference recognized by the World Trade Organization (WTO), are important tools for animal health and welfare while also contributing to production efficiency. It warns that restrictions lacking scientific justification could undermine the competitiveness of Brazil's livestock sector.
The organizations maintain that importing countries' requirements should apply only to producers choosing to supply those markets, rather than to Brazil's entire livestock industry.
They also warned that incorporating such provisions into national legislation would set a precedent for future foreign requirements to influence Brazil's public policies, including environmental and production regulations, thereby affecting the country's regulatory sovereignty, legal certainty and sector competitiveness.
The groups further called for any regulatory changes to be based on technical and scientific evidence and to take into account the realities of Brazilian livestock production, particularly those of small-scale producers, according to Pecuária.
