Representative organizations from different links in the livestock and meat chain are demanding that the European Commission strictly enforce the suspension of imports of beef and poultry from Brazil , provided for in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1189 and which came into force on September 3.
Organizations in the livestock and meat supply chain welcome the measure and consider this a turning point for European import control policy. Therefore, they demand that the suspension be implemented without delay or any extension. However, they warn that limiting this ban exclusively to the use of antimicrobial drugs is insufficient given the shortcomings identified by the European Union’s own official inspections. In their view, it is necessary to close any loopholes that could jeopardize food safety.
Furthermore, the signatory organizations make any hypothetical lifting of the restrictions conditional upon the prior adoption of two structural guarantees:
- Immediate budgetary and operational reinforcement . A firm increase in the budget allocation for European Union Border Control Posts to strengthen the staff, technical resources, and infrastructure necessary to guarantee official inspections.
- New official traceability audit . A new audit at the source will be conducted to reliably verify the implementation and operation of a comprehensive and unalterable traceability system from the farm to export.
The signatory organizations emphasize that September 3rd represents an opportunity to correct a historical imbalance . Livestock farmers and processors in the European Union are subject to the most demanding regulatory standards regarding food safety, traceability, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability . Therefore, they believe that the highest level of compliance cannot be demanded of EU producers while allowing the entry of products from third countries that do not meet the same standards. In their view, maintaining strong regulations not only protects consumer health but also ensures fair competition in the European market .
Finally, these organizations are requesting an immediate working meeting with national and EU authorities to monitor the implementation of the veto, learn about the deployment of resources and inspection means, and verify that controls at points of entry into the EU have the necessary capacity.
“September 3rd —they conclude— cannot be just a date in a regulation: it must be the start of a new stage of effective controls, real traceability and equal guarantees for all products entering the European market.”
Organizations signing this joint statement:
- Meat Business Association (ANAFRIC)
- National Association of Meat Industries of Spain (ANICE)
- National Association of Swine Producers (ANPROGAPOR)
- Young Farmers’ Agricultural Association (ASAJA)
- Spanish Association of Beef Cattle Producers (ASOPROVAC)
- Spanish Interprofessional Association of Poultry Meat (AVIANZA)
- Spanish Confederation of Meat Retailers (CEDECARNE)
- Agri-food Cooperatives of Spain (CAE)
- Spanish Confederation of Compound Animal Feed Manufacturers (CESFAC)
- Business Federation of Meats and Meat Industries (FECIC)
- Young Farmers and Ranchers of Catalonia (JARC)
- Union of Beef Cattle Breeders (UGAVAN)
- Union of small farmers (UPA)
