Brussels decision clears path for trade resumption after avian flu outbreak, boosting Brazil’s poultry sector
SÃO PAULO/BRUSSELS: The European Union has officially recognised Brazil as free of avian influenza, paving the way for the gradual lifting of restrictions on Brazilian chicken exports that were imposed earlier this year.
The announcement was made by Brazilian Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro, who shared the development on social media platform X. In a follow-up statement, Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that Favaro held a high-level videoconference with Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Andre de Paula and the EU’s Commissioner for Animal Health and Welfare Oliver Varhelyi.
According to the ministry, Commissioner Varhelyi expressed confidence in the data submitted by Brazilian authorities regarding the avian flu outbreak reported earlier this year on a breeder farm in Southern Brazil.
“Minister Favaro, I have good news: our assessment is that the data provided by your ministry is sufficient to recognize that Brazil is free of avian influenza,” Varhelyi was quoted as saying.
“In practice, this means that we will move forward with the Member States to propose the gradual lifting of bans and restrictions on Brazilian exports, progressively reinstating all previously authorized areas,” he added.
Brazil’s poultry industry faced a significant setback when the country reported its first-ever case of highly pathogenic bird flu in May 2024, prompting several trade partners to impose temporary restrictions. While some nations have gradually reopened their markets, China—one of Brazil’s top chicken buyers—has maintained its restrictions.
Despite these challenges, Brazilian chicken shipments to Europe remained strong. By June 2025, the EU had imported 125,300 tonnes of chicken meat from Brazil, a 20.8% increase year-on-year, generating $386.3 million in sales, according to figures released by ABPA (Brazilian Association of Animal Protein). The EU’s recognition marks a major boost for Brazil’s poultry sector, reinforcing the country’s status as the world’s largest chicken exporter and providing a crucial signal to other nations still maintaining restrictions. Industry analysts expect the move to stimulate export growth in the coming months, offering relief to producers and exporters navigating a competitive global protein market.
