Switzerland halts Brazilian beef and poultry imports over antibiotics

Switzerland has banned imports of beef and poultry from Brazil since September 3 over concerns about antibiotic use, SRF reported. The Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office confirmed the measure to SRF’s consumer magazine Espresso.

The European Union introduced the ban in early September after Brazil failed to provide sufficient guarantees that its products meet requirements on antibiotic use in livestock farming.

EU rules prohibit the use of antibiotics to promote growth or improve performance in livestock. Some antibiotics that are vital for treating people, known as reserve antibiotics, are not permitted for use in animals to help prevent antibiotic resistance. Switzerland has adopted the same import restriction.

The impact on beef supplies in Switzerland is expected to be limited. Almost 80 percent of beef consumed in the country is produced domestically, according to the meat industry organisation Proviande. Most beef imports come from Germany and Austria.

About 40 percent of poultry consumed in Switzerland is imported, and one-third of those imports come from Brazil. Proviande said this was a significant amount but that the situation remained manageable. It does not expect a meat shortage.

Coop said the ban affects only a few Brazilian products and that alternatives are available. Migros said only a small number of convenience products, such as chicken nuggets, were affected and that it was switching to products from the European Union.

Proviande said it had no influence over retail prices. However, it did not rule out a possible increase in meat prices.