Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik, a Polish MEP from the Patriots for Europe group, has asked the European Commission to clarify the health risks posed by meat imports from Brazil and to justify a three-month delay before new restrictions take effect. In a parliamentary question submitted on 29 June 2026, she raised concerns over possible use of unauthorised substances in Brazilian meat and recent reports of Salmonella detected in consignments on the Greek market, pressing the Commission on consumer safety and transparency.
The question, addressed to the Commission under standard parliamentary procedure, contains two concrete demands: first, whether the Commission has assessed the health impact of Brazilian meat on EU consumers and will publish the results; second, why restrictions on imports and sale of the meat in question will only enter into force on 3 September 2026, and what consumer protection measures will apply in the interim. The MEP's intervention targets the Commission's regulatory timeline and risk communication, implying that the current gap between detection of hazards and enforcement leaves consumers exposed.
Zajączkowska-Hernik's question reflects a broader concern among some MEPs about the adequacy of EU food safety controls for third-country imports, particularly when substances banned in the EU may be used abroad. By requesting publication of any impact assessments, she is pushing for greater transparency from the Commission on its scientific evaluations. The question also implicitly challenges the proportionality of the transitional period, suggesting that if risks are serious enough to warrant new rules, they should be applied without delay.
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. Its response will signal whether it shares the MEP's sense of urgency or considers the current measures sufficient, and may reveal the scientific basis for the 3 September deadline. The outcome could affect consumer confidence and trade relations with Brazil, a major meat exporter to the EU.