The UK's four farming unions have jointly called on the government to ban Brazilian meat imports into Great Britain, citing concerns over antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the impact on domestic producers. The Ulster Farmers' Union, NFU, NFU Scotland, and NFU Cymru have written to Defra Secretary Dame Angela Eagle urging the prohibition of certain animal products from Brazil starting 3 September, when new EU restrictions come into force.

The EU has ruled that Brazil has not provided sufficient guarantees that its meat exports comply with new regulations governing the use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals. These regulations prohibit the use of antimicrobials for growth promotion and restrict certain drugs reserved for human medicine. While the EU decision does not imply Brazilian meat is unsafe, it means affected products cannot enter the EU market.

The farming unions argue that Great Britain should adopt equivalent precautionary measures rather than allowing imports to continue while it conducts its own assessment. They warn that without a ban, Brazilian products displaced from the EU could flood the British market, piling pressure on UK farmers who already adhere to strict antibiotic reduction targets. UK farming has voluntarily cut antibiotic use by nearly 60% since 2014.

The unions highlight a particular concern for Northern Ireland, noting that divergent rules could complicate trade with the region. Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, Northern Ireland aligns with EU standards, meaning Brazilian meat banned in the EU could not enter Northern Ireland but could enter Great Britain. This could create an uneven playing field and disrupt internal UK trade.

Union leaders also raise consumer transparency issues. They state that much Brazilian meat imported into the UK enters the food service sector, where country-of-origin labelling is not required. This means consumers eating in restaurants or canteens may be unaware they are consuming imported meat produced under different welfare and antibiotic standards.

The government has said it is conducting its own evidence-based assessment of Brazil's antimicrobial controls and that existing import checks remain in place. Brazilian products must satisfy current British import conditions, which include residue monitoring and risk-based border inspections. No decision has been made to alter these arrangements before the EU deadline.

Figures from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board show UK beef imports from Brazil rose by 33% to about 15,000 tonnes in the first half of 2026 compared with the previous year. The unions fear this trend will accelerate if Brazilian meat is shut out of the EU market and redirected to Britain.

The farming bodies are demanding the government prohibit affected Brazilian products until Brazil can demonstrate compliance with equivalent standards, conduct an in-person audit of Brazilian production systems, and increase border checks on imported meat. They also want a wider UK framework ensuring imported food meets the same core production standards as domestically produced food.