What happened between Brazil and the EU over meat exports?

In mid-May, just two weeks after the provisional entry into force of the Mercosur–EU free trade agreement, the European Commission announced it would remove Brazil from its list of authorized meat exporters starting September 3. The ban covers beef, poultry, horse meat, fish, honey, eggs and their derivatives — products destined for all 27 EU member states.

Why did the EU block Brazilian meat?

The Commission cited a 2023 EU regulation that prohibits imports of animals and animal products from production systems that use antimicrobials for growth promotion or yield enhancement, or substances reserved for human medical treatment. The Irish ambassador to Brazil, Martin Gallagher, confirmed in Brasília that the EU would not relax its sanitary requirements and noted that these rules had been discussed with Brazilian authorities for years.

How did President Lula react?

An irritated President Lula called both European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, pointing out the contradiction of negotiating a landmark trade deal only to face sanctions on one of Brazil's most symbolic exports. Both leaders reportedly told Lula they had not been informed by their services and that the decision was made at the technical level of the Commission. Both promised to "find a technical solution."

What is Brazil doing to resolve the situation?

Brazilian authorities acknowledged internally that the Agriculture Ministry had failed to prepare the sector to meet EU requirements. However, the government has since published four joint circular letters — one for each affected sector: cattle, poultry, honey and fish — addressing the specific rules of each production chain. Negotiations between Brazil and the EU are reportedly ongoing, though officials admit that compliance, especially for beef, is difficult to achieve in the short term.

Key Facts:
  • EU ban on Brazilian meat takes effect September 3, 2025.
  • Products affected: beef, poultry, horse meat, fish, honey, eggs and derivatives.
  • Reason: non-compliance with EU 2023 antimicrobial regulation.
  • Von der Leyen and Costa said they were unaware of the decision before Lula called.
  • Brazil has published four circular letters to adapt each affected sector.
  • Negotiations between Brazil and the EU are continuing.