The European Commission is to audit the control systems in place in Brazil and Uruguay around the production of beef intended for export to the EU in 2026.
The Commission will also conduct a similar audit of the production of beef in the UK for export to the EU.
The audits are part of the EU’s health and food audits and analysis work programme for 2026.
One of the main objectives of the work programme is to provide robust evidence on third-country standards to support EU policies and safeguard the integrity of trade agreements, such as the Mercosur trade deal.
“Commission controls in third countries verify that effective controls are in place to ensure that their exports meet EU health, safety and quality standards, to protect EU consumers and food business operators. This also includes controls of candidate countries for EU accession,” the Commission said.
Irish audits
A number of audits are also to be carried out in Ireland next year, including an audit which will evaluate the controls around medicated feed. An audit of animal welfare controls during livestock transport to non-EU countries will also be undertaken.
Given the prevalence of bluetongue virus and lumpy skin disease on the continent this year, the Commission will launch two new projects which will examine vector-borne diseases and listeria.
It will go on three fact-finding visits to Austria, Italy and Spain to identify good practices and gaps in policy actions to reduce serious zoonotic risks from vector-borne diseases.
It will send a targeted questionnaire on listeria to all EU member states in view of an assessment planned in 2027.
The audits are carried out by the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety.
It plans to carry out 159 controls, which are mainly audits, next year across EU member states and countries which export food to the EU.
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The European Commission is to audit the control systems in place in Brazil and Uruguay around the production of beef intended for export to the EU in 2026.
The Commission will also conduct a similar audit of the production of beef in the UK for export to the EU.
The audits are part of the EU’s health and food audits and analysis work programme for 2026.
One of the main objectives of the work programme is to provide robust evidence on third-country standards to support EU policies and safeguard the integrity of trade agreements, such as the Mercosur trade deal.
“Commission controls in third countries verify that effective controls are in place to ensure that their exports meet EU health, safety and quality standards, to protect EU consumers and food business operators. This also includes controls of candidate countries for EU accession,” the Commission said.
Irish audits
A number of audits are also to be carried out in Ireland next year, including an audit which will evaluate the controls around medicated feed. An audit of animal welfare controls during livestock transport to non-EU countries will also be undertaken.
Given the prevalence of bluetongue virus and lumpy skin disease on the continent this year, the Commission will launch two new projects which will examine vector-borne diseases and listeria.
It will go on three fact-finding visits to Austria, Italy and Spain to identify good practices and gaps in policy actions to reduce serious zoonotic risks from vector-borne diseases.
It will send a targeted questionnaire on listeria to all EU member states in view of an assessment planned in 2027.
The audits are carried out by the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety.
It plans to carry out 159 controls, which are mainly audits, next year across EU member states and countries which export food to the EU.
Read more
Watch: Brazil investigation highlights tagging and traceability issues
EU 'cannot dictate' how antibiotics are sold outside the EU
Tagging and traceability trouble in Brazil
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