EU to suspend Brazilian meat imports from September 3, citing antimicrobial rules

PARIS, Sept 1 (Reuters) - The European Union will suspend meat imports from Brazil from September 3 ‌after the South American country failed to guarantee ‌its compliance with EU rules on the use of antimicrobial substances, an ​EU Commission spokesperson said on Tuesday.

• The EU had announced in May that Brazil was set to be removed from a list of compliant countries exporting certain animal products ‌to the bloc.

• ⁠The Commission spokesperson told reporters that the EU had not received guarantees of Brazil's compliance ⁠with the bloc's requirement that antimicrobials not be used for animal growth.

• For poultry and honey, an audit of ​Brazilian production ​is due to be ​completed at the end ‌of this week, though results will not be available immediately, the spokesperson said.

• For beef, of which Brazil was the EU's second-largest supplier in 2025, the EU was seeking guarantees covering the whole life cycle of animals, the ‌spokesperson added.

• The Commission did ​not give a timeline for a ​possible lifting of ​the ban.

• The EU also prohibits giving ‌animals antimicrobials that are used ​to treat humans, ​including antibiotics.

• Overuse of antibiotics in animals can create resistant bacteria that spread to people through food, ​contact or the ‌environment, making some human infections harder to treat.

(Reporting ​by Gus Trompiz, Bart Meijer and Sybille de ​La HamaideEditing by David Goodman)