EU suspends Brazilian honey, egg, and meat imports over antibiotic rules

The European Union has suspended imports of Brazilian honey, eggs, and meat (beef and poultry) as of Thursday, September 3, 2026, citing insufficient guarantees from Brasilia that these products comply with EU rules against the abusive use of antibiotics in livestock farming. Brussels requires its trading partners to meet strict sanitary standards, including bans on antimicrobials used to boost animal growth and on treatments reserved for human infections. Brazil was removed from the EU's list of approved countries in May, and audits are underway to verify compliance before exports can potentially resume. Brazil, the EU's second-largest beef supplier in 2025 with over 92,000 tonnes worth €713 million, has expressed "profound concern." It warns it may use "reciprocity measures" or Mercosur agreement mechanisms if negotiations fail, while the EU's move also serves as a response to criticism over its January Mercosur trade deal.