August 14, 2006

Irish minister calls for equal beef standards

Irish Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan has called for a level playing field in which beef reaching the EU must meet standards of production similar to those of its member states. 

Coughlan added that countries which could not provide such assurances should have their access to EU markets  restricted and those restrictions should remain in place until the guarantees can be satisfactorily provided.

In a pointed barb at Brazil, Coughlan referred to reports by the EU Food and Veterinary Office indicating that the country could not offer guarantees equivalent to those provided for under EU laws. Despite this disparity, Brazil continues to export to the EU, she said.

The minister said food producers within the EU were subject to tight regulation and as a result, they produce food that is of the highest of standards.

It is unfair that Irish and EU producers have to be subjected to strict regulations when imports are not subjected to the same regulations, she said.