European Commission auditors have concluded that Brazil's controls on the use of certain antimicrobials meet EU requirements for poultry meat and honey, a key step towards resuming exports that have been suspended since September.

The audit, carried out from 24 August to 4 September and published on 28 September, found that Brazil's procedures, inspector training and official controls give a solid basis for certifying that exports comply with EU restrictions on antimicrobial use. Brazil had been removed from the EU list of countries allowed to export certain animal products under those rules, halting the trade from 3 September and prompting Brazilian hints of retaliation.

Poultry exports are expected to resume sooner than beef because chickens have short lives, making compliance easier to prove. Beef exports are likely to stay suspended for about two years because of the time from a calf's birth to slaughter, Eric Thévenard, the Commission official in charge of audits, told the European Parliament.

EU member states must still vote to restore Brazil's authorisation for poultry imports; the committee concerned is due to meet on 20-21 October and 16-17 November. Euractiv's agriculture desk now publishes under the Rapporteur name.

Photo: Jonathan Wilkins / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Source: Euractiv, Agriculture