Stop all imports of Brazilian meat. Bresaola supply chain left without supplies

From today, the European halt on imports of beef from Brazil comes into force. The measure was triggered by the use of antimicrobials and hormones in livestock farming, substances that accelerate growth but are not permitted under EU health regulations.

Brazilian authorities have had several months to transpose the Union's rules and the Brazilian Association of meat-exporting industries has stated that the government has submitted the guarantees requested by the European authorities on controls over antimicrobial use. According to the Association, Brazil's beef supply chain has already introduced a private protocol for controlling antimicrobial use, drawn up together with other organisations in the sector.

In fact, already after the go-ahead for the agreement between the EU and Mercosur, Brazil should have adopted the certification excluding antimicrobials, as Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay would have done.

Unfair competition

For Coldiretti, the halt to Brazilian imports “is a victory resulting from the campaign conducted in Italy and Brussels to uphold the principle of reciprocity. This is not a battle against international trade, but against unfair competition which for too long has demanded the highest standards in the world from European farmers while, at the same time, allowing products that offered no equivalent guarantees to enter”.

However, the halt to imports of Brazilian meat also creates a problem for producers of Bresaola della Valtellina PGI: around [number] of the raw material comes from non-EU countries. The prized, lean zebu meat is mainly produced in South America. Before imports were halted, companies in the supply chain stockpiled Brazilian meat, but in a few months the problem will arise.80% The product specification for Bresaola della Valtellina PGI requires processing to take place in Italy, but does not provide for
Italian origin of the cattle

Volumes down

This has been a difficult situation for Italian producers, with prices rising further in recent months.
The Assica Report 2025 reports that total sales of Bresaola in large-scale retail have fallen by 6,3%. While sales of Bresaola della Valtellina PGI have plummeted by 12,1% in volume, affected by rising prices and the shortage of raw material.
Consumer value nevertheless increased by 4,6% to 502 million euros.

Other articles:
Bresaola della Valtellina on alert: from 3 September, Brazilian meat imports halted

Bresaola della Valtellina PGI: in 2025 consumer value at 502 million euros

This article was translated from the original Italian version with the assistance of artificial intelligence. In case of discrepancies, please refer to the original Italian version.