The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has called on Government to ban imports of Brazilian beef and poultry if it cannot prove that it is using antibiotics responsibly.
The Union’s call for a ban on imports of Brazilian products of animal origin was put forward to prevent the UK market from being exposed to products that could pose a threat to human health, while potentially eroding public trust and undermining progress in tackling antimicrobial resistance.
From 3rd September, the EU will be removing Brazil from its list of approved countries to export products of animal origin to the region, as Brazil has not proved it is adhering to EU rules designed to prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant infections.
NFU said that the EU does not allow countries to export products, such as beef or poultry, that are derived from animals that have been treated with critical antimicrobials that are reserved for human health or used for growth promotion or yield improvement. It went on to say that Brazil has been unable to demonstrate compliance with these rules.
The Union has previously called for a set of core production standards that would apply to domestically produced and imported food sold in the UK.
In the UK, a voluntary effort has reduced sales of farm antibiotics by 60% since 2014, while also retaining use for clinical needs. According to NFU, the reduction in the use of antibiotics critically important for human health stands at 83%.
“Unless there is full confidence that Brazilian meat has been produced responsibly, the Government should take the same precautionary approach as the EU.”
Tom Bradshaw, NFU
NFU president Tom Bradshaw commented: “Maintaining trust in British meat must remain a priority and that’s why we advocate for clear country of origin labelling, particularly in the food service industry.
“A key responsibility of Government is to ensure that products entering the UK are safe and do not pose a public health risk.
“Unless there is full confidence that Brazilian meat has been produced responsibly, the Government should take the same precautionary approach as the EU and ban the import of Brazilian products. It should also increase the frequency of testing for products entering the UK from high and medium risk countries such as Brazil.
“If it does not, there are wider reputational risks for the British beef and poultry sectors. Public confidence could be undermined if consumers believe the UK is importing beef or poultry meat that the EU has deemed unsafe.”
Brazilian meat could be diverted to the UK
If the UK does not take action, NFU suggested there could be a “significant influx” of Brazilian beef and poultry imports originally intended for the EU.
The NFU has said that, once introduced, any ban should not be lifted until Defra has conducted an extensive, in-person audit of Brazilian production and traceability. The Union also requested testing on Brazilian products of animal origin at the UK border, as they currently undergo limited testing, with 94 samples tested for residues of veterinary medicinal products in 2023-2024.
Bradshaw added: “There is a real risk that Brazilian beef and poultry originally destined for the EU could be diverted to the UK market, distorting trade and putting additional pressure on domestic producers.”
