EU meat ban: Canary Islands warn of expensive steaks

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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 industry.

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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 believe an „imminent risk“ is 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 market“. This applies „in the coming weeks“ alone, it adds.

This will „lead to prices in the food sector and the hospitality industry skyrocketing“, the business association in the province of Santa Cruz stated. „On top of this supply problem come the new costs resulting from the European Union’s packaging reform“, the association went on to warn. This would 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, supermarket shoppers and restaurant diners.

Another factor is the end of government subsidies, which is also making shopping more expensive. All of this comes on top of the already rising price levels. 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 undeniable consequences for the catering industry in the Canary Islands, it was stated.

Meat prices have been a wild card ever since the EU held out the prospect of a ban on imports from Brazil. It is alleged that numerous regulations are 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 issues.

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.