European Union vetoes imports of meat and animal products from Brazil The president of the Brazilian Association of Meat Exporting Industries (Abiec), Roberto Perosa, stated this Thursday (16) that there is a high chance that Brazilian meat production will not be able to meet the European Union's requirements on the use of antimicrobials and, as a result, lose access to this market. "I think that the Ministry of Agriculture is talking to all links in the chain, both with the industry and with livestock farmers, to reach a good decision that we don't have yet, but we are monitoring it so that we can reach this good decision", stated Perosa. According to Perosa, considering the cattle breeding cycle, the requirements may not be met, as adaptation would take around 30 months, that is, two and a half years. ? Antimicrobials are substances used to treat and prevent infections in animals. Some of these medicines can also be used as growth promoters, a practice restricted by European legislation. At the beginning of June, the European Union officially removed Brazil from the list of countries considered capable of complying with the bloc's rules for controlling the use of antimicrobials in animal production. As a result, the country will be prevented from exporting meat to the European market from September 3rd. In the list published in 2024, Brazil was authorized to export beef, chicken and horse meat, as well as tripe, fish and honey. Now, the country will be prevented from exporting all these products to the bloc of European countries. Meanwhile, other Mercosur countries, such as Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, continue to be able to export to the European Union. According to the European Commission, Brazil was removed from the list for not presenting the necessary information to prove that its production meets the bloc's requirements on the use of antimicrobials. Although it represents a relatively small portion of the volume exported by Brazil, the European market is considered strategic as it concentrates the purchase of cuts with higher added value. Last year, 5% of Brazilian meat exports were destined for the European Union. Terra da Gente recorded the famous cattle crossing from one bank to the other Márcio de Campos Chinese safeguards In addition to the restrictions imposed by the European Union, the sector faces another challenge: the safeguards adopted by China. As of January 1, 2026, the country began to apply import quotas and surcharges on Brazilian beef. The measure, expected to last three years, establishes an initial annual quota of 1.1 million tons for Brazil. Exports exceeding this volume are subject to a 55% surcharge. According to Perosa, the effects of the restrictions have already begun to be noticed this month, given the difficulty of selling production that has grown significantly in recent years. Among the consequences are reports of collective holidays in slaughterhouses. "We don't have the same global demand for meat," said Perosa. According to him, it is precisely international demand that helps to sustain prices in the domestic market. "Brazil's main market is the domestic one, but exports complement it and create this mix that means we don't need to make a sharp increase in domestic prices. This mix that brought this guarantee of remuneration from the external market with China, that doesn't exist. And we are seeing many industries in difficulty. Today the majority of industries are working in the red," he said. Asked about the impact on the price of meat in Brazil, Perosa stated that, initially, prices should remain stable. In a second moment, however, pressure on production margins and the heating of the economy may lead to readjustments. "The tendency is for the price of meat to remain stable, but then it may increase", he declared.