EU Halts Brazilian Poultry Imports Over Bird Flu Outbreak
A confirmed bird flu case on a Brazilian farm has triggered an EU-wide ban on poultry and meat imports from the world’s top exporter.
Brazil’s Bird Flu Case Shuts Door to EU Market
A bird flu outbreak on a Brazilian poultry farm has prompted the European Union to suspend all poultry and meat imports from the country, citing animal health regulations that demand exporters be free of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
The decision follows Brazil's confirmation of its first HPAI case on a commercial farm in Rio Grande do Sul, triggering not only the EU ban but also export suspensions from major buyers like China and Japan. The European Commission stated that Brazil can no longer issue the required health certificates for poultry exports, effectively pausing trade for the foreseeable future.
Though the EU only accounted for about 4.4% of Brazil’s poultry exports in 2024, Brazil represented nearly one-third of the EU's external poultry supply. Local European producers, who’ve faced pricing pressure from Brazil’s competitive meat, may see the ban as economic relief—at least in the short term.
For now, the timeline for resuming exports remains unclear, and Brazil’s status as HPAI-free will need to be reinstated before the ban is lifted.