UK urged to ban imports of Brazilian meat over health concerns

Brazilian farmers are using antibiotics in cattle and poultry farming without proper oversight, raising concerns about the safety of their meat exports to the UK. The National Farmers' Union (NFU) and other farming organizations have urged the government to ban imports of Brazilian meat due to potential health risks from antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The EU plans to ban Brazilian beef and chicken imports over the same concerns, but the UK can act independently due to Brexit. UK imports of Brazilian meat have increased since Brexit, with meat making up a significant portion of the total. Brazil is the eighth-largest exporter of chicken to the UK. While the country has made efforts to limit antibiotic use on farms, a recent investigation revealed that Brazilian farmers can easily access antibiotics classified as highest-priority critical in human medicine without a prescription.

This contributes to the global health crisis of antibiotic resistance, which causes approximately 1.14 million deaths annually. The UK government has been asked to take action, but as of now, it has not implemented a ban. In light of the EU ban and the ongoing salmonella outbreak in imported eggs, critics argue that the UK's refusal to follow suit may undermine efforts to strengthen intra-UK food safety trade and realign with the EU post-Brexit.