Business & Finance

UK farming groups demand ban on Brazilian meat imports over antibiotic concerns

The EU is set to ban Brazilian beef and chicken next week, but post-Brexit UK rules mean the British government is not automatically following suit.

Updated Aug 28, 2026 · 16:20 UTC1 reports

The short version

UK farming organizations have written to the government demanding an urgent ban on meat imports from Brazil, citing public health risks and antibiotic resistance.
The European Union plans to implement a ban on Brazilian beef and chicken imports next week, leaving the UK to decide whether to align with EU standards.
While the UK government has refused an immediate ban, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is conducting a rapid assessment of Brazil's production systems.

The National Farmers' Union and its devolved sister organizations wrote to the UK government requesting an urgent ban on Brazilian meat imports.[The Guardian]
The concerns center on the routine use of antibiotics in Brazilian livestock, which critics argue contributes to global antimicrobial resistance and superbugs.[The Guardian]
An investigation published last year by Irish agricultural organizations found that Brazilian farmers could easily access critically important antibiotics without prescriptions and that traceability rules were not applied.[The Guardian]
UK imports from Brazil grew from £3 billion in 2021 to £5 billion in 2025, with Brazil supplying about one-eighth of UK chicken imports in 2024.[The Guardian]
The EU's impending ban does not automatically apply to the UK due to post-Brexit rules, although Northern Ireland still aligns with EU food and farming regulations.[The Guardian]

It remains unclear if the UK government will eventually implement a ban, as Defra is currently seeking information and assurances from Brazil during its rapid assessment.[The Guardian]