Published in News
Hormone Meat Shock: Will the EU Still Trust Brazil?
A new Irish investigation shows easy access to antibiotics and hormones in Brazilian cattle farming, raising fresh doubts about the EU-Mercosur trade deal.
Hormone-Treated Meat: A Growing Concern
A recent investigation by Irish journalists has shaken confidence in Brazilian beef production. The findings suggest that antibiotics and hormones—some banned in Europe—are freely sold and commonly used in Brazil’s cattle industry. This puts new pressure on the already troubled EU-Mercosur trade agreement.
What the Investigation Found
The research, done by the Irish Farmers Journal together with the Irish Farmers' Association, uncovered serious problems in how veterinary medicines are controlled in Brazil.
Antibiotics Sold Without Control
Journalists visited farming supply shops in different regions and found that:
Prescription antibiotics were sold without any paperwork.
No ID, no herd number, and no vet approval were needed.
Some vendors even offered extra-large quantities.
Many products had no barcodes, meaning sales aren’t tracked in a national system.
This would be impossible in the EU, where antibiotic use is tightly regulated.
On the Farms: Use of Banned Substances
The team also visited cattle farms to observe real practices.
Antibiotics in Daily Feed
Every farm they saw used automatic feeders mixing minerals with monensin, an antibiotic used to improve growth.
This is notable because monensin has been banned in the EU since 2006 for performance enhancement.
Hormones Easily Available
Investigators were also able to buy hormone products for fattening cattle.
Among them was estradiol, a hormone banned in the EU since 1988.
These findings raise concerns that meat from hormone-treated animals could reach Europe, despite export rules that are supposed to prevent this.
Impact on the EU-Mercosur Deal
The timing is sensitive: the EU-Mercosur trade agreement has faced years of debate over environmental and safety issues.
Irish Farmers Demand a Halt
The President of the Irish Farmers' Association, Francie Gorman, says the results confirm long-standing fears:
Production standards in Mercosur countries are not equal to EU standards.
He plans to present the findings directly in Brussels and argue for stopping the deal.
Ongoing Pushback in Europe
Several EU countries—such as Ireland, France, and Poland—remain critical of the agreement.
The current draft would allow limited beef imports from the Mercosur region, roughly 1.5% of total EU beef production, but even this amount is seen by critics as risky for farmers and food safety.
What Happens Next?
The future of the EU-Mercosur agreement is now even more uncertain.
This new investigation has:
Increased public and political pressure
Strengthened opposition in several EU states
Raised new questions about Brazil’s ability to guarantee safe meat exports
Whether the deal moves forward will depend on how both sides respond—and whether the EU believes Brazil can enforce stricter controls.