EU urged to halt Brazilian beef imports over sanitary violations

Spanish livestock associations ASAJA and the Asociación 19 de Abril have called on the European Union to immediately suspend imports of Brazilian beef. The groups say the EU’s recent decision to ban certain Brazilian animal products stems from non‑compliance with EU sanitary rules, including the use of prohibited substances and antimicrobials.

Both organisations argue the current approach creates a double standard: European producers must meet increasingly strict health, welfare and environmental requirements, while imports from Brazil face weaker controls. They stress that consumer safety and the credibility of the EU food‑safety model require an instant ban rather than waiting for the provisional suspension scheduled for September. The protests also highlight concerns over trade reciprocity under the pending EU‑Mercosur agreement.

The associations demand that the EU enact “mirror clauses” and effective border checks to ensure parity between domestic and foreign meat supplies.