British beef and poultry producers have received fresh sourcing commitments from leading retailers
Major UK retailers have reaffirmed their commitment to British fresh beef and poultry after the NFU sought assurances over sourcing following new EU restrictions affecting Brazilian meat.
The union contacted leading retailers after new EU antimicrobial rules came into force on 3 September, restricting market access for countries unable to provide guarantees that their animal products comply with the requirements.
According to the NFU, all major retailers it contacted confirmed their commitment to sourcing British beef and poultry for their fresh ranges remained unchanged.
The commitment is significant for livestock and poultry producers, although it relates specifically to fresh ranges rather than necessarily covering processed foods, ready meals, foodservice or other products.
The union sought the commitments after Brazil was left off the EU’s authorised list for several animal-product categories, including bovine and poultry products, under rules designed to tackle antimicrobial resistance.
Under the EU regime, countries exporting relevant animal products must demonstrate that antimicrobials are not being used for growth promotion or increased yield, and that certain drugs reserved in the EU for treating human infections are not being used.
The restriction is not necessarily permanent. Countries can be added to the authorised list if they subsequently provide the European Commission with the required evidence and guarantees.
The NFU has raised concerns that Brazilian beef and poultry displaced from the European market could instead be directed towards Great Britain, increasing competition for domestic producers. It has also argued that imported food should meet comparable baseline production requirements to those faced by British farmers.
NFU Food Business adviser Annabel Bagshaw said: “Retailers play a critical role in supporting domestic food production and giving consumers confidence in the provenance and standards of the food they purchase.”
The union said firm commitments to British sourcing can give farmers greater certainty and support investment in domestic beef and poultry production.
However, it is continuing to press the government over standards applying further along the supply chain and to imported products.
The NFU wants a set of core production standards covering both domestic and imported food, arguing that farmers should not be undercut by goods produced using practices that would not be permitted in the UK.
It is also calling for greater transparency around food origin so consumers can make more informed decisions about the products they buy.
The issue extends beyond supermarket fresh-meat counters. The farming unions have previously highlighted foodservice as an area of concern because country-of-origin information is not always available to consumers in the same way as it is on retail packs.
Great Britain continues to operate its own import-control regime. The UK’s 2026/27 monitoring programme includes risk-based testing of imported animal products for hazards including antimicrobial resistance and veterinary medicine residues.
For the NFU, the retailers’ assurances provide some certainty over the market for British fresh beef and poultry, but its wider campaign remains focused on imported food standards, supply-chain transparency and the rules governing products entering the UK.