Brazilian Imports, SEPAmatic and an Acid Patent

The EU antimicrobial regime takes practical effect, Fortifi acquires German separation technology, and Corbion defends a food patent with a short remaining term

Since 3 September, additional EU requirements concerning antimicrobial veterinary medicinal products have applied to third-country imports, with immediate consequences for Brazil and a temporary special position for Switzerland. Fortifi is consolidating separation technology through SEPAmatic, while Corbion is defending an amended patent for coated acid particles.

Follow-up: Brazil Is Absent from the Antimicrobial List, Switzerland Is Not

Since 3 September, an additional market access requirement has applied to certain animals and foods of animal origin from third countries. As Food Essentials has previously reported, the country of origin and commodity category must be listed in Annex XVIa to Regulation (EU) 2021/405. The guarantees concern the prohibition of antimicrobials for growth promotion or increased yield, and substances reserved for treating certain infections in humans [1][2].

The practical consequence now affects Brazil. On 1 September, the European Commission confirmed that the country is currently not listed for the affected commodity groups. An audit covering poultry and honey is under way; according to the Commission, written guarantees for these two categories have already been provided. Evidence is required for the animals’ entire life cycle. Equivalent guarantees for beef had not been received at the time of the briefing [3].

The interruption is therefore neither a residue alert nor a blanket assessment of Brazilian production standards. The decisive issue is the absence of regulatory listing for the relevant country–commodity combination. Nor does a completed audit automatically lead to the resumption of trade on the same day: review, reporting and assessment would need to be followed by an amendment to Annex XVIa. Importers must therefore rely on the version of the list applicable at the time of clearance.

Switzerland occupies a different position. A decision of the Joint Veterinary Committee applicable since 1 September updates the common veterinary regime. Switzerland applies the relevant prohibitions to livestock and is not treated as a third country for the purposes of Article 118 of Regulation (EU) 2019/6 until 1 July 2028 [4]. The Committee must review this temporary arrangement before it expires.

For procurement and quality assurance, the comparison illustrates how the system works: for Brazil, access for the affected categories currently depends on the positive list; for Switzerland, veterinary equivalence underpins the exception. Origin, product group, official certificate and dispatch date must therefore be checked together. A general reference to a free trade or veterinary agreement is not sufficient for operational clearance.

Fortifi Acquires SEPAmatic: Separation Technology Becomes a Platform Issue

On 2 September, Fortifi Food Processing Solutions announced the acquisition of Germany’s SEPAFood Solutions GmbH, known by the SEPAmatic brand. The Overath-based company develops and manufactures low-pressure belt separators, screw separators, perforated and separation drums, and conveying equipment for meat, fish, fruit and vegetables. The sellers are the founding family and Hamburg-based investment company BPE; no purchase price was disclosed [5].

Technically, SEPAmatic adds systems to Fortifi’s existing separation portfolio that separate soft tissue from harder components using low mechanical pressure. Fortifi highlights patented cooling to limit temperature rise and integrated speed control. Both address key process parameters: material yield and throughput must not come at the expense of texture, temperature control or downstream product safety.

The strategic dimension lies in the combination with the Provisur and LIMA separation solutions already owned by Fortifi. Processors gain access to a broader range of machinery, spare parts and services from one corporate group. This may simplify interfaces and international support, but also increases the importance of platform compatibility, spare-parts strategy and manufacturer-specific process expertise. The announced integration of AI and machine learning is, for now, an objective stated by the buyer; Fortifi provides no specific functions, launch dates or validated performance data.

Traditional metrics therefore remain decisive before an investment: temperature rise in the actual raw material, separation quality, yield, structural changes, cleanability, wear and total cost of ownership. The acquisition immediately changes the ownership and service structure. Whether it will lead to technically integrated product lines or new data-based functions remains open.

Corbion’s Acid Patent: Upheld, but Only in Amended Form

Following an appeal, the European Patent Office upheld Corbion’s patent EP2037758 in amended form. Corbion announced the outcome on 27 August but published neither the relevant reasoning nor the final wording of the amended claims [6]. This limitation is important when assessing the competitive implications: the full scope of protection granted in 2018 has not automatically been confirmed.

The granted patent specification concerns food-grade core–shell particles. The shell contains at least 50 per cent by weight of a partially neutralised polycarboxylic acid; the core contains a food acid or its salt and has a different composition. Examples include malic, citric, fumaric, adipic and tartaric acids. In the granted version, product claims also cover foods containing such particles, including seasoning mixes, bakery products and confectionery [7].

The technical benefit lies in controlled acid delivery. A shell can influence flowability and storage behaviour, limit dust and stickiness, and stagger the sensory acid profile over time. For product developers, the specific particle architecture is therefore more important than the general term encapsulation. Whether an alternative acid system falls within the scope remaining after the appeal can only be assessed against the amended claims.

The remaining term also puts the announcement into perspective. European patents normally run for 20 years from the filing date; EP2037758 was filed on 12 July 2007. Its normal maximum term therefore ends on 12 July 2027 [7][8]. The reviewed publications did not reliably establish which validated states still provide protection, whether all renewal fees had been paid or the extent of the amended claims. The patent thus remains relevant in the short term but does not provide a basis for long-term exclusivity beyond 2027.

Wishing you a pleasant weekend, Andreas Gebhart

Sources

All sources last checked and accessed on 3 September 2026.

1. Food Essentials: Tierische Importe, mikrobielle Fette und Butterkonsolidierung, 28.08.2026.
2. DVO (EU) 2026/1189, Art. 1 und Anhang XVIa.
3. Europäische Kommission: Ban on Brazilian meat – Q&A, 01.09.2026.
4. Beschluss Nr. 1/2026 des Gemischten Veterinärausschusses, Art. 2 und Anhang.
5. Fortifi: Acquisition of SEPAFood Solutions GmbH, 02.09.2026.
6. Corbion: European patent EP2037758 upheld in amended form, 27.08.2026.
7. Europäisches Patentamt: EP 2 037 758 B1 – Patentschrift, 19.09.2018.
8. Europäisches Patentübereinkommen, Art. 63.

Note: These updates provide technical context and do not replace legal, patent, technological or product-specific assessment of an individual case. Image: AI-generated.