European Union to ban Brazilian animal product exports over antibiotic concerns

The European Union has removed Brazil from its list of authorized exporters of animal products, including meat, chicken, eggs, and honey. The ban is scheduled to take effect on September 3, 2026, following rulings that Brazil cannot sufficiently prove compliance with strict EU regulations regarding the use of antibiotics as antimicrobial growth promoters in livestock.

Brazilian President Lula da Silva has formally requested that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen provisionally restore Brazil to the export list. In a letter sent on July 31, 2026, Lula proposed a temporary measure to allow exports to continue while the European Commission conducts audits of Brazil’s antimicrobial control systems, which are scheduled for late August 2026.

The decision follows significant pressure from European farmers in countries such as Spain, France, Poland, and Italy, who have protested against South American imports. These agricultural groups argue that cheaper products produced under different sanitary and environmental standards undercut local producers. While the ban is a sanitary measure, it occurs shortly after the provisional implementation of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement.