STORY-TRÅD·politik

EU signals resumption of chicken and honey imports from Brazil

Suspended since September 3, exports of chicken and honey to the European Union (EU) may resume in the near future – a statement made Wednesday (Sep. 30) by European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič during a meeting with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services Márcio Elias Rosa in Milwaukee, US. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the G20 Trade Ministers’ meeting. The group comprises the 19 largest economies in the world, plus the European Union and the African Union. Notícias relacionadas:Ban on Brazilian meat and honey exports to Europe takes effect.According to a joint statement from the Ministry of Foreign Relations and the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services, the European representative mentioned the positive outcome of a recent audit conducted in Brazil and stated that, once the bureaucratic procedures are completed, shipments of poultry meat and honey to the bloc’s member countries could resume in the near future. Technical decision The final decision on resuming exports will be reviewed by the European Commission’s Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food, and Feed. The technical meeting is scheduled for October 20 and 21. The Ministry of Agriculture has requested that the audit report be included on the committee’s agenda. In the assessment released this week, the European Commission deemed Brazil’s production system in the poultry and honey sectors satisfactory and concluded that the country meets European requirements regarding the use of antimicrobials. During the inspection, the auditors verified the Brazilian controls that prevent the use of antimicrobials to stimulate animal growth or increase production yields, among other things. Beef The Brazilian government is also seeking an expedited process to resume beef exports. According to the statement released after the meeting, Brazilian representatives expressed the hope that the same treatment given to the poultry and honey sectors could be applied to beef. The situation, however, involves additional requirements. In the case of beef, proof of sanitary control depends on tracking the animal’s entire life cycle, from birth to slaughter. This can take up to two years, which makes lifting the restriction more complex. Beef also accounts for a significant portion of Brazilian animal protein exports to the European market. Suspension of sales The European Union has removed Brazil from the list of countries deemed to be in compliance with the bloc’s rules regarding the use of certain antimicrobials in livestock production. These substances may be used to treat infections in animals, but European legislation prohibits their use to promote growth. The suspension of imports took effect on September 3 and applied to products such as beef, pork, and chicken, as well as honey, fish, eggs, and other items of animal origin. Since then, the Brazilian government has been in negotiations with European authorities to lift the restrictions. The audit conducted this month on the poultry and honey supply chains was regarded as a promising step, but it does not, in and of itself, guarantee the resumption of purchases. Other products At the meeting in Milwaukee, Brazilian ministers and the European Commissioner also discussed the European Union’s restrictions on steel imports. According to the Brazilian government, the bloc is reviewing the allocation of quotas for steel products. The change could open up opportunities for Brazil, even though the process still has additional stages scheduled for 2027.