Brazil meat ban ‘reversing expectations’ of EU-Mercosur deal, ambassador warns
Brussels' suspension of Brazilian meat imports undermines key benefits of the EU-Mercosur trade deal which Brazil paid a high price to secure, the country’s ambassador to the EU has said.
Brazil's ambassador to the European Union has raised concerns that the ban on Brazilian meat imports could undermine the core aspects of the EU-Mercosur trade deal, creating a "reversal of expectations" among Brazilians and generating frustration among the country's producers. The European Commission halted imports of meat and other food products from Brazil last week due to concerns over antimicrobial substances used in production, impacting millions of euros worth of Brazilian exports.
Ambassador Pedro Miguel da Costa e Silva explained that the ban targets sensitive products that Brazil and other South American nations agreed to include in the EU-Mercosur trade deal, citing steep quotas. He stressed that the suspension is not related to the quality of Brazilian food exports but warned of a potential "distortion" as part of a disinformation campaign targeting Brazil's production standards.
The EU audit of Brazilian poultry and meat production, completed last Friday, has not yet released preliminary results, and the European Commission has stated that Brazil must provide guarantees before it can be reinstated to the list of compliant countries authorized to export to the EU. Brazil's beef exports to the EU amounted to around $1 billion (€860 million) in 2025.
While the Brazilian government is reportedly engaging in talks with EU officials to resolve the issue, the ambassador remains hopeful for a resolution through dialogue, emphasizing the importance of maintaining strong relations between the EU and Brazil.
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