Document type: Answer to Question E-002498/2026 from the European Commission
Authors: Question: Mathilde Androuët (PfE). Answer: Mr. Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission
Question in English:
In its Farm to Fork Strategy, the Commission recognised that animal welfare is a key aspect of a sustainable EU food system[1]. It also maintains that the EU‑Mercosur agreement upholds the EU’s standards on animal health and promotes reinforced cooperation on animal welfare[2].
However, images recorded by the Animal Welfare Foundation between August 2025 and March 2026 in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay[3] show cattle intended for the EU market in particular being reared in feedlots, confined to open‑air pens and subjected to artificial diets based primarily on grains and soybeans to accelerate weight gain before slaughter.
These practices appear to be directly at odds with the commitments made by the European Union.
In light of the above:
1. Has the Commission verified this information with the Brazilian, Argentinian and Uruguayan governments?
2. Can it guarantee the that beef imported into the EU is not a product of these practices?
[1] Communication COM(2020) 381 final of May 20, 2020, titled “A ‘Farm-to-Table’ Strategy for a Fair, Healthy, and Environmentally Friendly Food System,” in which the Commission commits to revising animal welfare legislation to “ensure a higher level of animal welfare.”
[2] European Commission, Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security, “Factsheet: EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement – Respecting Europe’s Health and Safety Standards,” https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/eu-trade-relationships-country-and-region/countries-and-regions/mercosur/eu-mercosur-agreement/factsheet-eu-mercosur-partnership-agreement-respecting-europes-health-and-safety-standards_en?prefLang=fr
[3] “Images of cattle feedlots in Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay reveal animal suffering, an NGO reports,” Contexte, May 4, 2026.
Answer in English:
The Commission recognises that animal welfare is an important component of sustainable food systems. It also recalls that the EU – Mercosur Interim Trade Agreement (ITA) does not lower EU rules and preserves each Party ’ s right to regulate, including in areas linked to food safety, animal health and animal welfare.
The ITA, which has been provisionally applied between the EU and the Mercosur Signatory Parties since 1 May 2026, also provides for cooperation and dialogue on animal welfare with Mercosur partners.
Current EU legislation on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter applies to imports. However, the same principle does not currently apply to EU rules on the welfare of animals at farm.
Over the last two years, welfare of animals at slaughter has been checked during audits conducted in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. Although not all audit reports are published yet, the outcomes of such checks were satisfactory.As announced in the Livestock Strategy[1] of 7 July 2026, the Commission intends to propose by the end of 2026 a targeted revision of animal welfare rules for laying hens and broilers, and in 2027, a similar proposal aims to address pig welfare.
These proposals aim to follow-up on the Citizens’ Initiative ‘End the cage age’ and also aim to provide an opportunity to introduce equivalent animal welfare requirements for imported products specifically in those sectors.
At this stage, no legislative proposal on the welfare of beef cattle is planned. There is no specific EU animal welfare legislation applicable to beef cattle.
Only the general rules of Directive 98/58/EC apply[2], which do not prohibit open-air pens or feeding practices provided health and weather protection are ensured, and nutritional needs are satisfied.
[1] Commission Communication entitled “EU Strategy for Livestock Farming,” COM (2026) 576 final.
[2] Council Directive 98/58/EC of July 20, 1998, concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes (OJ L 221, Aug. 8, 1998, p. 23).
