June 30, 2006

EU farm community express shock at strong Brazilian beef exports

Latest Brazilian beef export figures which show EU imports from the country were just down slightly have surprised the farming community in the EU.

Despite the EU ban on three key Brazilian beef-producing states imposed last October in response to the

 foot-and-mouth outbreak, EU beef imports from Brazil for the first four months of the year were down just 12 percent compared to the same period last year.

Irish and UK producers have urged the European Commission to ban beef from Brazil as there have been further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease there.

Some 65,536 tonnes were imported in 2006 compared with 74,354 tonnes in 2005.