UK Refuses to Ban Brazilian Meat as EU Closes Market Over Antibiotic Concerns

UK farming unions demand a ban on Brazilian meat from 3 September 2026, matching an EU ban on antibiotic-use grounds. The government has refused. Post-Brexit, the UK need not follow the EU, and farmers fear Brazil will divert meat rejected by Europe to British buyers. A 2025 investigation found Brazilian farmers accessed critically important antibiotics without veterinary prescriptions.