Agricultural organisations and cooperatives in the European Union have strongly questioned the European Commission's assurances that the signing and entry into force (as of May Day 2026) of the trade agreement with the Mercosur countries does not entail a relaxation or deterioration of the Union's strict rules on the quality and suitability of products imported from Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, under the Agreement.
And about two weeks after the entry into force of cooperation with the Mercosur countries, the EU has demonstrated its determination to prevent the import of unsuitable products into its member countries.
The Commission's decision to ban - from September 2026 - the import of meat and animal products from Brazil to member states, due to the use of antibiotics banned in the EU in livestock farms in Brazil, has also caused a sensation in EU countries and Mercosur countries.
The decision to ban meat imports from Brazil may allay some of the concerns of farmers' associations in the EU, who fear that substandard production standards in Latin America will create unfair competition to the detriment of European producers.
Commenting on the concerns, the European Commission has repeatedly assured that EU food safety rules will continue to apply to agricultural products imported from Latin America after the entry into force of the Mercosur agreement. Commission spokeswoman Eva Hrdzirova confirmed to Euronews that as of September 3, Brazil will no longer be able to export products such as cattle, equines, poultry, eggs, aquaculture, honey and intestines to the EU.
"Trade agreements do not change our rules," Ms. Hrdzirova told Euronews, adding: "The Commission is establishing the Union's mandatory sanitary and phytosanitary standards, and both our farmers and exporters from third countries must comply with them."
Once Brazil convinces the European authorities of its compliance with safety rules, the EU will be able to resume imports and Brazil will be able to benefit from the same tariff relief as the other Mercosur countries. Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture has announced that it will take all necessary measures to align with European requirements and reverse the decision as soon as possible, as Europe is a key market for its products.
The use of antimicrobials in livestock farming enhances the growth of animals or even their protection from infections, but abuse leads to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), turning common bacteria into "superbugs", which are not eradicated by existing drugs and pose a serious threat to humans as well. The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks antimicrobial resistance as one of the top global threats to public health.
