The Irish Farmers’ Association's (IFA) president Francie Gorman has welcomed the European Commission’s announcement that an all-out ban of Brazilian meat imports is on the table, but he criticised Brussels for the time taken for action on concerns around Brazilian beef.

Tuesday saw member states vote to take Brazil off the list of countries permitted to export meat and animal products to the EU due to non-compliance with EU antibiotic rules, with the updated list to take effect from September 2026, if the country fails to take corrective action.

“The Commission is finally taking the antibiotic and anti-microbial resistance (AMR) threat posed by Brazilian beef production somewhat seriously,” Gorman said.

“This follows the IFA-Irish Farmers Journal investigation of the unregulated use of all levels of antibiotics in the Brazil late last year.”

November’s IFA-Irish Farmers Journal investigation into the standards of Brazilian beef production uncovered major discrepancies in the country’s over-the-counter sale of antibiotics and hormones banned in the EU.

'Startling'

“The IFA made a detailed submission on our findings to EU institutions and it is only now they are being taken seriously,” Gorman commented, referring to the findings as “startling”.

“We were able to purchase any amount of any type of antibiotics we wanted without so much as being asked for our names, the animal type or symptoms to be treated, a prescription, or even a farm identifier.

“In a significant number of the outlets, there wasn't even an inventory check with antibiotics sold to us across the counter for cash without scanning or recording the sale.”

He called for Tuesday’s delisting announcement to “now be backed up by meaningful actions”

The IFA president accused the Commission of ignoring the findings of the Brazilian “in their rush to sell out Irish and EU farmers for big industry in the Mercosur trade deal”.

He called for Tuesday’s delisting announcement to “now be backed up by meaningful actions”.

“The Brazilian authorities do not have a good track record of compliance with EU auditors and trade requirements as evidenced by the finding of the DG Sante inspections,” Gorman continued.

“There can be no fudging of this issue by the Commission; there can be no short cuts taken with an issue this serious for human and animal health.”

Gorman said that the starting point of Brazilian compliance with EU food safety rules must be the creation of a database of all cattle animals in the country and the incorporation of prescribing, dispensing and treatment records similar to the system in play in Ireland, which he added would take years to complete.

“Until this happens, not one ounce of Brazilian beef should be allowed enter the EU if the Commission are serious about AMR and if today's announcement is to have any credibility.”