Chicken and Beef Prices Could Rise in Lanzarote as Brazilian Imports Face EU Restrictions
Shoppers across Lanzarote and the wider Canary Islands could see changes to the price and availability of chicken and beef from September, following new European Union rules affecting imports from Brazil.
From 3 September 2026, new EU requirements concerning the use of certain antimicrobial medicines in animals and products of animal origin will apply to imports entering the European market.
Brazil is currently not included on the EU’s authorised list for several categories, including bovine meat and poultry, because the European Commission has said it has not received sufficient guarantees that the necessary requirements will be met.
What does this mean for the Canary Islands?
The change could be particularly significant for the Canary Islands, which rely heavily on imported food because of the islands’ limited agricultural land and geographical isolation.
Recent reporting from the Canary Islands agricultural sector has highlighted concerns that the restrictions could remove a substantial proportion of imported chicken and beef from the market. The agricultural organisation ASAGA has been reporting on the expected impact, including warnings that around half of some imported meat supplies could be affected.
That does not necessarily mean supermarkets in Lanzarote will run out of chicken or beef.
Instead, importers and distributors are expected to look towards alternative suppliers, including Spain, other EU countries and Latin American countries that meet EU requirements.
The main concern is cost.
Brazil has been an important source of relatively inexpensive meat for the Canary Islands. Replacing those supplies with products from alternative markets could increase purchasing and distribution costs, potentially feeding through to supermarket prices, restaurants, hotels and other businesses.
Why is the EU restricting Brazilian meat?
The change is connected to European rules on antimicrobial medicines, including restrictions designed to prevent the use of certain antimicrobials in food-producing animals in ways that could contribute to antimicrobial resistance.
The EU says these requirements also apply to animals and animal products coming from outside the European Union.
Under the new system, products entering the EU must come from countries that can provide the required guarantees regarding these rules.
The European Commission specifically stated that Brazil had not provided the necessary guarantees for bovine, poultry and several other categories by the deadline.
Will chicken and beef become more expensive in Lanzarote?
They could.
There is currently no reliable basis for saying that chicken prices in Lanzarote will definitely rise by exactly 25%, or that beef will increase by exactly 10–15%.
Those figures circulating in some reports should therefore be treated as forecasts rather than guaranteed price increases.
The eventual impact will depend on several factors, including:
- how quickly alternative suppliers can replace Brazilian imports;
- the prices offered by those suppliers;
- transport and freight costs to the Canary Islands;
- existing stocks held by supermarkets and distributors;
- currency movements;
- and how much of the additional cost is passed on to consumers.
The Canary Islands already have a high dependence on imported food. One Canary Islands development programme estimates that around 85% of the meat consumed in the islands is imported, highlighting why changes to international meat supplies can have a disproportionate effect locally.
What about restaurants and hotels in Lanzarote?
The effects may extend beyond supermarket shelves.
Restaurants, hotels, cafés, catering companies and takeaway businesses in Lanzarote all depend on reliable supplies of chicken and beef.
If wholesale prices increase, businesses will have to decide whether to absorb the additional cost, change suppliers, alter menus or pass some of the increase on to customers.
For tourists visiting Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca, Costa Teguise and other popular Lanzarote resorts, this could eventually have a small knock-on effect on the cost of meals containing chicken or beef.
However, it is far too early to suggest that visitors should expect dramatic increases in restaurant prices. Businesses have several alternative supply options, and the market will take time to adjust.
Could there be shortages?
At present, a long-term shortage of chicken or beef in Lanzarote is not inevitable.
The Canary Islands Government continues to support local meat production through the POSEI programme, including assistance for locally produced beef, poultry and other fresh meats.
The more likely issue is a change in the origin of the meat and potentially higher prices, rather than supermarket shelves remaining empty.
Importers will be looking for replacement supplies, and other countries remain able to export products to the EU provided they meet the applicable requirements.
An important point about the EU-Mercosur agreement
There has also been some confusion surrounding the reason for the change.
The restriction should not be described simply as the EU suspending the Mercosur trade agreement.
The EU-Mercosur Interim Trade Agreement began provisional application on 1 May 2026, while the September change relates specifically to EU legislation governing antimicrobial requirements for animals and products of animal origin.
The European Commission has itself stated that these antimicrobial rules are separate from the Mercosur trade deal.
What happens next?
The European Commission has been examining whether Brazil can demonstrate compliance with the new requirements. Recent inspections have been taking place in Brazil, and the Commission has indicated that a positive outcome could allow Brazil to return to the authorised list for affected products.
The situation could change if Brazil provides the necessary guarantees and satisfies the European requirements.
For now, Lanzarote shoppers should expect a period of adjustment rather than automatically assuming there will be shortages. But with Brazil playing an important role in supplying meat to the Canary Islands, some upward
