EU meat ban sparks Canary Islands warning on higher steak prices

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The western Canary Islands are expecting a shortage of chicken and beef this autumn.
This is due to an import ban on meat from Brazil being considered by the EU over the use of antibiotics and growth promoters.
A trade association anticipates a significant rise in prices for consumers and the catering sector.

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Business owners in the western Canary Islands are concerned. According to the «CEOE Tenerife«, meat supplies could become a problem this autumn. Business representatives and restaurant owners see an «imminent risk» looming over the archipelago.

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The reason behind the potential supply shortages is import restrictions on meat from Brazil. The association speaks of «a 50 per cent shortfall in the chicken and beef markets». It goes on to say that this applies «in the coming weeks» alone.

This will «lead to prices in the food sector and the hospitality industry skyrocketing», according to the business association in the province of Santa Cruz. «On top of this supply problem come the new costs arising from the European Union’s packaging reform», the association went on to warn. This will have a direct impact on consumers.

Canary Islands: Will meat soon become more expensive?

According to the association, the new EU regulations will lead to rising prices. Producers will have to invest many millions of euros to meet the requirements. These costs will have to be passed on to the end consumer – that is, customers in supermarkets and diners in restaurants.

Another factor is the end of state subsidies, which is also making purchases more expensive. All of this comes on top of the already rising price level. Most recently, the association complained about the effects of inflation. If a significant rise in meat prices is now added to this, the overall situation will have far-reaching consequences for the catering industry in the Canary Islands, it was said.

Meat prices have been a wild card ever since the EU held out the prospect of a ban on imports from Brazil. Numerous regulations are reportedly being flouted there. According to Brussels, these include, for example, the use of antibiotics and growth promoters. Industry experts do not expect Brazil to be able to change this in the short term – even if it were to acknowledge the issue.

The EU announced that it would send a delegation to the South American country at the end of August. Following this, discussions would take place on how to proceed. An import ban was initially being considered from the start of September.