The European Union has acted to ban meat from a number of Brazilian producers in a move that was widely anticipated.

Brazil’s government suggests the ban, which mostly concerns poultry, will affect 30-35% of its exports to the bloc and has re-iterated its plan to seek World Trade Organization support to oppose the ban.

The European Commission announced the measure yesterday (19 April) after it was first mooted a month ago. Some 12 of the banned plants are operated by meat producing giant BRF with the remaining eight operated by smaller companies.

The ban has been put in place because of “deficiencies detected in the Brazilian official control system,” the European Commission said.

It has been on the cards since mid-March. Since then the European Commission has been considering whether to strike-off a number of Brazilian meat processors from its approved list of importers in the wake of last year’s so-called Carne Fraca probe into alleged bribes paid to Brazilian government inspectors to overlook unsanitary conditions and practises.

In anticipation of the move Brazil suspended chicken exports from BRF to the EU, an action which led to a large number of worked being temporarily laid off.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Last week Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture Blairo Maggi was in Brussels for talks and he said this week the anticipated EU ban was nothing to do with health but amounted to a “trade war”.

Following the announcement of the EU ban, the news agency Reuters quotes Maggi as saying: “We need to start talks to re-establish these plants as soon as possible.”

It reports that the Brazilian government would request that a trade mission be allowed in Europe to negotiate a reversal of the measure.