Ireland raises doubts over Brazilian beef standards

The decision by the USDA to recall another major consignment of contaminated Brazilian beef on Friday (25 June) raises serious food safety issues and further justifies the case for an immediate cessation of the EU Commission-Mercosur trade negotiations, according to Irish Farmers' Association Union (IFA). 

IFA President, John Bryan said the EU Commission must outline the checks they have carried out on Brazilian beef imports into Europe since this US recall began last month.

"The EU climate change debate cannot be progressed when trade deals such as Mercosur facilitate the destruction of rain-forests in Brazil and South America," he said.

Bryan added that DG Sanco must also instigate a thorough review of the practices surrounding cattle production in Brazil to safeguard European producers and consumers, both of whom are being exposed to an unacceptable and unnecessary risk.

The EU Commission has a litany of reports from the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) outlining the continued failure of Brazil to meet European standards on the key issues of traceability, tagging, movement controls, food safety, animal health and environmental controls, he said.

"Against this background, it is incredible that the EU Commission is proceeding with the Mercosur trade talks, set to resume in Argentina next week," he added.