The European Commission announced April 19 a ban on purchases of poultry, especially chicken, from 20 Brazilian slaughterhouses, including 12 plants owned by the world's largest poultry exporter, BRF SA.  

The commission stated the ban was the result of “deficiencies detected in the Brazilian official control system.”

Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock & Food Supply Blairo Maggi said the ban affects 30-35% of the country’s exports and announced that Brazil will appeal to the World Trade Organization to resume exports of poultry to European Union countries.

According to Maggi, the ban constitutes a trade war, since the Brazilian government has been increasing the rigor of health inspections in products exported since last year.

"They are taking advantage of this to drive us out of the market in the name of health concerns, which is not true," he said.

The Associação Brasileira de Proteína Animal (ABPA) condemned the EU’s actions, calling them unfounded and not in line with the WTO Sanitary & Phytosanitary Agreement. As a result, ABPA has commissioned a study to support Brazil’s appeal to WTO.

At press time, BRF had not provided a comment.