Brazilian fish farming fears further delays in resuming exports to the European Union.

Peixe BR expresses concern about the European Union's decision to suspend imports of animal protein from Brazil due to issues related to antimicrobial control. This measure directly impacts the national fish farming industry, even though the sector has no connection to the identified non-conformities.

The news was released last Tuesday (12), after an update to the list of nations that comply with its rules against the excessive use of antimicrobials in livestock.

Photo: Press release/C.Vale

Since 2018, Brazilian fish has faced restrictions on exports to the European market due to problems identified in extractive fishing vessels. At the time, aquaculture was included in the suspension, although it was not held responsible for the issues in question.

Earlier this year, both the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture had signaled their expectation of a European Union mission to Brazil in June, a move seen by the aquaculture sector as a concrete opportunity to resume fish exports to the European bloc.

With the new decision, however, the expectation of reopening this market is once again compromised, due to issues unrelated to Brazilian fish farming.

Photo: Shutterstock

"Brazilian aquaculture continues to be penalized by problems that are not within the sector's control. We hope that the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA), through the Secretariat of International Relations, will act to reverse the loss of such an important market for Brazilian animal proteins," highlights Peixe BR.

The organization further emphasizes that the recent decision by the European Union, shortly after the advancement of the Mercosur-European Union agreement, reinforces a global scenario of market protection, in which sanitary and regulatory barriers are also being used as trade instruments.

Brazilian fish farming maintains high production, sanitary, and traceability standards, and remains committed to strengthening international trade relations and expanding markets for Brazilian fish products.