Brazilian beef and poultry imported into Ireland prior to an EU ban coming into force can continue to be sold, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has said.

The European Union has suspended imports of Brazilian beef, poultry and other animal products to the bloc from today (Thursday, September 3).

The move follows concerns over Brazil's compliance with EU requirements on the use of antimicrobials for the entire lifetime of the animals that the exported products originate from.

In May, member states voted to exclude Brazil from an updated list of third countries authorised to export food-producing animals and animal products to the EU.

FSAI

In a statement to Agriland, the FSAI said this new EU requirement "ensures that food imported to the EU has been produced with necessary regard to managing antimicrobial resistance".

"Brazil is not on the list of countries that has demonstrated alignment with EU antimicrobial usage requirements, so from September 3, 2026, Brazil is no longer amongst the countries from which various foods can be imported to the EU.

"Such food cannot be certified to legitimately enter the EU after this date."

The authority said the change "applies for consignments certified in Brazil after September 3, 2026".

"Some consignments from Brazil certified before that date will have recently legitimately entered the EU market or will currently be in transit to legitimately enter the EU during coming weeks.

"EU member states have no legal basis to prohibit the sale of food that was legitimately imported into the EU.

"Food recalls only arise when food placed on the market does not comply with EU law," it added.

The FSAI, which is the authority responsible for food safety in Ireland, said that it "will continue to implement and enforce EU food law to ensure consumers continue to benefit from the highest standards of food safety".

Brazil

Sinn Féin spokesperson on agriculture and food, Martin Kenny previously called for clarity on what will happen to Brazilian beef and poultry that is currently in circulation in Ireland when the ban comes into force.

“We cannot have a situation where the ban comes into effect, but food and meat processors continue to use Brazilian beef and poultry that they imported before the ban came into effect," he said.

Deputy Kenny called on Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon to issue a recall on all products containing Brazilian beef and poultry meat once the ban came into effect.

Minister Heydon said that "our food safety standards are non-negotiable".

"What’s very clear here is from this week that the importation of Brazilian beef into Europe ceases because the Brazilians have been unable to meet the SPS standards required, the food safety standards," he said.

Meanwhile, an EU audit of Brazil's poultry and honey sectors is due to conclude tomorrow.

If the outcome of that audit is positive the commission "may consider proposing an amendment to the list of authorised third countries in order to reinclude Brazil for poultry, and/or honey".

The EU has not indicated a timeline on when beef imports from Brazil could resume.