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

The European Union suspended imports of Brazilian beef, poultry, eggs, and honey starting Thursday, September 3, 2026, citing insufficient guarantees from Brazil regarding compliance with the bloc's antibiotic use regulations. The suspension could cause annual losses of up to US$1.8 billion for Brazil's agribusiness sector. The European Commission stated it awaits proof from Brazilian authorities that products meet its sanitary standards before exports can resume. Brazil is implementing new procedures to strengthen antimicrobial control in its production chain, while the government works with the Abiec meat exporters association to address the issue. The EU is a major destination for Brazilian agricultural exports, which comprised 42% of shipments to the bloc in 2025. Trade in services between Brazil and the EU grew 71% between 2021 and 2025, reaching €10 billion.