EU considering stricter measures on Brazilian meat imports

The European Union will take stricter measures on the import of meat from Brazil, an EU official said in Brasilia on Wednesday.

After a meeting with Brazilian Agriculture Minister Blairo Maggi, EU Health and Food Safety Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis said the measures might include more credentials for meat imports.

"We need an official and independent control system. We must have full confidence and create an immediate response scheme if there is a new crisis," said Andriukaitis. "We suggest the (EU) member countries check every product entering their territory."

He added that an upcoming EU agricultural meeting may impose new measures as well.

The EU is the third-largest consumer of Brazilian meat exports.

Andriukaitis also called for an independent control system to be established in Brazil "not under the influence of politicians and other actors."

This concern came after the federal police carried out the broadest operation on March 17. Operation Carne Debil (Weak Meat) was the culmination of a two-year investigation that found a number of shocking practices, including bribing government officials to allow rotten produce to be exported and meat being chemically altered to mask bad smells.

Following this scandal, several countries have announced a temporary suspension of Brazilian meat imports. Among the countries are South Korea, Japan, Chile, Egypt, Panama and Mexico.