The debate intensified after the European Union removed Brazil in May from the list of countries authorised to export products of animal origin to the European market. The decision is expected to take effect in early September.
The EU accounts for a relatively small share of Brazil’s total exports of its main meat products. The European market represents approximately 4.3% of poultry meat exports, 6% of beef exports and only a small proportion of pork shipments. Nevertheless, the EU remains strategically important to Brazil as a market for higher-value products and as a benchmark for internationally recognised production standards.
EU rules require proof that meat products have been produced without antimicrobial growth promoters throughout the entire production cycle. Brazil maintains that such substances are not used in products intended for the EU market. However, the country currently lacks an EU-recognised system capable of documenting compliance with this requirement.
Traceability Will Take Time
Introducing full traceability throughout livestock production chains is considered one of the main challenges. Implementing such a system would be comparatively easier in pig and poultry production because of their more integrated production structures.
In the cattle sector, however, animals may move between several farms during their lifetime, meaning that establishing a comprehensive control system could take several years.
Against the backdrop of negotiations with the EU, Brazil’s federal government has already banned additional substances previously used as growth promoters. These include avoparcin, bacitracin, zinc bacitracin, bacitracin methylene disalicylate and virginiamycin.
According to Ariovaldo Zani, president of Brazil’s national feed industry association Sindirações, antimicrobials classified as critically important or highly important for human medicine have already been completely prohibited in the country.
At the same time, several substances classified as “important” for human medicine remain authorised for use on the domestic market. These include sodium monensin, salinomycin, narasin and lasalocid.
Meat Industry Calls for a Complete Ban
The Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA) and the Brazilian Beef Exporters Association (Abiec) have asked the Ministry of Agriculture to impose a complete ban on the remaining authorised antimicrobial growth promoters.
Industry organisations believe that such a step would demonstrate to European partners that Brazil is prepared to strengthen controls and align its livestock production with EU requirements.
The proposal has also received support from JBS controlling shareholder Joesley Batista and the company’s global chief executive, Gilberto Tomazoni. They personally urged Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to introduce the restrictions.
Producers Warn of Higher Costs
The meat industry’s proposal has raised concerns among farmers and manufacturers of animal health products. At least 14 livestock producer organisations have signed a joint manifesto opposing the application of one export market’s requirements across the entire country.
Producers argue that banning additional products could increase production costs, complicate disease control and negatively affect animal productivity.
Francisco Manzi, technical director of the Mato Grosso Cattle Breeders’ Association, said Brazil is capable of segregating products intended for the EU and meeting additional requirements specifically within the relevant export supply chains.
According to him, producers are interested in maintaining access to the European market but oppose automatically applying the standards of a single buyer to the country’s entire livestock industry.
The government’s next decisions will determine whether Brazil introduces a complete nationwide ban on antimicrobial growth promoters or establishes separate certified production chains for supplies to the European Union.
PigUA.info, based on materials from foodagribusiness.world