July 17, 2007

EU rejects IFA effort to impose ban on Brazilian beef
 

The European Commission has rejected a report on the Brazilian beef industry from the Irish Farmers Association that urged the EU to ban beef from Brazil.

The IFA has been working to press the EU into banning Brazilian beef, citing poor hygiene standards and

foot-and-mouth disease concerns. The body has long claimed that these poor standards contradict the strict quality controls imposed by the EU on European farmers.

The association is presenting its report in Brussels as part of a campaign to get the EU to ban low-priced beef imports.

However, the European Commission says the report contains old and misleading information. The two states that IFA cited its report have already been banned from exporting beef to the EU, and the third is subjected to conditions.

The IFA also failed to visit any slaughterhouses, laboratories or veterinary offices during its fact-finding mission, the EC noted.

Moreover, much of the allegations in the reports were based on a misinterpretation of EU rules.