October 10, 2007

EU may ban Brazilian exports by the end of the year

The EU may ban Brazilian meat imports if it does not see an improvement in the country's food safety standards by the end of the year, the EU's health chief said on Tuesday (October 9, 2007)

The EU has identified weaknesses in Brazil and has pressured the country to respond, European Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said in the European Parliament.

A ban would be likely if the situation has not improved by the end of the year, no matter the costs it would have on trade, he said.

A EU delegation will visit Brazil next month to assess if Brazil has complied with requirements.

Irish and British farmers have been pressing the European Commission to ensure Brazilian farmers comply with EU food safety requirements or impose a ban on the country's products.

Brazil's farming industry had denied the claims of use of illegal growth hormones and say the country is implementing the recommendations of EU animal health officials who visited the country in March.

The European Parliament's agriculture committee supported a ban on Brazilian meat imports in July, based on reports from Irish and British farmers on Brazil's poor safety standards.

While accepting there may be areas where Brazil is failing requirements, Kyprianou dismissed the claims of Irish farmers, who he said were acting "in self-interest".