28 September 2026
An on-site audit carried out by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) has concluded that Brazil’s control systems on the use of antimicrobials comply with European Union standards for broiler poultry meat and apiculture products. The audit evaluation marks a pivotal step toward restoring market access following the recent suspension of imports under updated veterinary medicinal product regulations.
Effective 3 September 2026, the European Union enforces strict prohibitions under Article 118(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/6 (supplemented by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/905) on imports of animals and products of animal origin. Because third countries must be listed in Annex XVIa to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 (as amended by Regulation (EU) 2026/1189) to continue trade, consignments from Brazil certified on or after 3 September 2026 were temporarily halted pending verification of equivalent guarantees.
The DG SANTE mission, conducted between 24 August and 4 September 2026, audited the competent authority, the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA), alongside state veterinary agencies, feed manufacturing facilities, slaughterhouses, hatcheries, grow-out holdings, and apiaries.
While Brazilian national regulations have prohibited most reserved substances, phosphonic acid derivatives (such as fosfomycin) remain registered for certain poultry treatments domestically. In response, Brazilian authorities and integrated poultry producers implemented strict, auditable physical and logistical segregation lines for EU-bound flocks. Official verification at farm level, initiated on 1 July 2026, combined with the digital tracking of veterinary prescriptions, guarantees that birds certified for the EU have not received growth promoters or human-reserved antimicrobials throughout their ~45-day lifespan.
The auditors identified an initial regulatory gap regarding official supervision of establishments manufacturing premixtures incorporating additives and veterinary products. MAPA addressed this finding during the audit mission by formally extending the EU feed verification module and prohibiting the handling or storage of phosphonic acid derivatives in facilities formulating feeds or intermediate products for EU-eligible chains.
In its final report, the European Commission concluded that the official controls, procedure manuals, inspector training, and segregation protocols in Brazil provide a solid foundation for certifying poultry and honey exports under EU standards.
While the technical audit yields a positive verdict, the resumption of commercial shipments remains contingent on a formal vote by EU Member States to re-include Brazil on the Annex XVIa authorized list. The Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCoPAFF) is scheduled to convene meetings on 20–21 October and 16–17 November 2026 to deliberate on the matter. Bovine meat exports remain subject to a separate, forthcoming audit evaluation.
