An EU health and food safety official has indicated that beef from Brazil will be banned from the EU for at least two years, and no date for when Brazilian beef can return has been set.

The two-year period reflects the length of time it takes for beef animals to be raised to slaughter in Brazil.

The EU suspended imports of Brazilian beef, poultry, and other animal products to the bloc from 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.

There had been some lack of clarity over how long such a ban would be in effect for, and if changes made to the traceability regime in Brazil in the short-term would allow beef exports to the EU to resume sooner rather than later.

However, the commission has now confirmed that a proper traceability regime has to be in place from an animal's birth; meaning that, even if Brazil addressed all the relevant issues now, only beef from animals born after these issues were addressed could be exported.

Agriculture committee

Director of health and food audits for the European Commission, Eric Thevenard, was speaking at the agriculture committee of the European Parliament yesterday (Monday, September 28) where he was questioned by Irish MEP Ciaran Mullooly.

Thevenard told the committee that he did not know when Brazil would be able to export beef to the EU again.

"In short, the time between birth and slaughter, let's say, will be around two years.

"So you can calculate yourself; nothing before two years in theory. So two years from now, beef should not come from Brazil," he said.

Speaking after the meeting, Mullooly said: "This confirms what I and many others have been saying. Brazil has not provided the assurance needed to show that its beef exports meet EU food safety standards.

"The commission has also confirmed that its concerns about Brazil's controls on [the hormone] oestradiol remain unresolved," Mullooly added.

According to the Irish MEP, the commission officials also indicated that an audit of Brazil's antimicrobial controls would only be scheduled when there is a realistic prospect of beef trade resuming.

Mullooly said: "Brazilian beef must not return to the EU market until compliance with all applicable EU requirements has been demonstrated and independently checked.

"I will press the commission to set out evidence it needs; complete its follow-up audit; and keep consumers and farmers informed before any reopening decision," he added.