The European Union began enforcing a ban on Brazilian animal products Thursday, affecting exports worth about $1.84 billion a year, mainly beef and poultry. Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry said beef exports to the bloc totaled $1.05 billion in 2025, while chicken meat exports reached $763 million. The EU, an important buyer of higher-value cuts, accounted for 5.86% of Brazil’s beef export revenue and about 8% of its chicken export shipments. The restriction followed the European Union’s conclusion that Brazil had not provided sufficient guarantees that prohibited antimicrobials are excluded from production. The bloc bans substances that can promote animal growth and antimicrobials reserved for human medicine. Experts said the measure reflects concerns about Brazil’s official controls rather than irregularities found in Brazilian meat. EU inspectors are reviewing Brazil’s poultry and honey systems, but no immediate decision on lifting the restriction is expected. Brazil’s ministries of agriculture and foreign affairs have said the government could take reciprocal measures if negotiations fail. The action came after the United States allowed large volumes of tariff-free Brazilian beef following a meeting between President Donald Trump and Joesley Batista, whose business JBS USA is the largest U.S. beef supplier and processor. Batista and his brother Wesley later confessed to bribing more than 1,800 Brazilian politicians and agreed to pay a $3.2 billion fine.