EU to ban imports of Brazilian beef and chicken in September

28 July 2026

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By Kate Adams, Senior European Policy Advisor 

The EU is set to ban imports of Brazilian meat, including beef and poultry, starting 3 September 2026, citing concerns that Brazil cannot demonstrate compliance with EU restrictions on antimicrobial use in food-producing animals.

Background

In 2019, the EU introduced new veterinary medicine products legislation (Regulation (EU) 2019/6). In addition to ensuring the availability of safe and effective veterinary medicines across the EU, it also aims to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by restricting inappropriate use of antimicrobials. The provisions on AMR also apply to imports from third countries. 

This was later supplemented by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/905. This imposes restrictions on the use of antimicrobials in live animals and animal products exported to the EU. It bans the use of antimicrobials as growth promoters or to increase yield, and the use of certain antimicrobials reserved for human treatments. 

This legislation means that from 3 September 2026, countries exporting Products of Animal Origin (POAO) must be compliant with the EU’s antimicrobial rules. Countries must be included in the official list of authorised exporting countries, and official certificates must have an attestation of compliance signed by competent authorities.

On 12 May 2026, EU Member States voted on an updated list of third countries authorised to export food-producing animals and animal products to the EU. Brazil was not included on this list.

This came only weeks after ratification of the EU-Mercosur trade deal. 

What does this mean?

This means that as of 3 September 2026, Brazil will no longer be authorised to export POAO to the EU. However, the following limited products are exempt:

  • gelatine, collagen, highly refined products, composite products, wild animals, and products from insects, frogs, snails, and reptiles
  • animals and food of animal origin in transit not placed on the EU market
  • animals or products of animal origin not intended for human consumption or when the
    destination has not been decided at entry into the EU
  • samples from food of animal origin for product analysis and quality testing not placed on the market.

Why has the EU taken this action?

Antimicrobial (antibiotic) resistance is viewed as a major threat to global health. Brazil cannot provide sufficient guarantees that animals intended for export have not been produced using antimicrobials for growth promotion, or without antimicrobials reserved for treating serious human infections across the entire lives of animals.

Once sufficient guarantees can be provided by Brazil, exports to the EU can resume.

Impact on sectors

Beef

Brazil is one of the world’s largest beef exporters.

In 2025, Brazil exported 83,000 tonnes of fresh and frozen beef to the EU.

According to AHDB analysis, if EU access is restricted, some product could be diverted to other markets. This could include China, the Middle East, USA and the UK. 

Brazil has access to a UK WTO beef quota for fresh, chilled and frozen beef of approximately 11,143 tonnes. However, in 2024, imports from Brazil reached 23,000. This was 8% of the UK's total beef imports. 

Poultry

Brazil is also a major poultry meat exporter.

According to Rabobank, the EU imports 211,000 tonnes of chicken from Brazil each year. They predict that under a ban, EU chicken prices would likely increase. Brazil would also likely try and sell larger volumes to markets including the UK, Mexico and the Middle East.

In 2025, the UK imported 700,000 tonnes of poultry meat. Approximately 88,700 tonnes were imported from Brazil. According to UK Government, Brazil is one of the UK's largest non-EU poultry suppliers. 

Other sectors

The EU ban covers most POAO, apart from the limited exceptions listed above. The ban will cover dairy and pork products.

Rabobank’s World Dairy Map 2026 shows Brazilian dairy exports to the EU and the UK are small. The impact on the dairy sector is therefore expected to be limited.

Brazil produces around 4% of the world’s pigmeat and is the 3rd largest exporter, after the EU and USA. However, Brazil’s main export markets are the Philippines, Japan and China. Exports to the EU are limited, so the impacts are expected to be minimal.

Impact on the UK

EU legislation Regulation 2019/6 on veterinary medicine products and AMR does not apply in Great Britain or Northern Ireland. This means that the UK does not have the same legal basis to ban Brazilian imports as the EU.

The UK and EU are currently negotiating an SPS agreement. It is not yet certain whether AMR will be in scope of the agreement, and if the UK will therefore follow EU legislation. 

As mentioned above and by AHDB, any displaced Brazilian products, particularly beef and poultry, may be diverted to the UK market. For beef, even a small increase in imports from Brazil may distort the market.

The impact on UK farmers depends on how long the ban is in place for. We understand that Brazil is trying to find a solution before the 3 September deadline, to ensure that products can still be exported to the EU market. 

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