December 21, 2007

Brazil blasts EU on beef export restrictions

The Brazilian Agriculture Ministry on Wednesday (December 19) has lashed the European Union for imposing restrictions on its beef shipment.

In a statement, the ministry slammed the EU move as "unnecessary, disproportional and unjustified", shortly after the European Commission tightened restrictions on Brazilian beef exports to the27-nation bloc from January 31.

The EU's executive branch said the inspections done in November stated Brazil failed to meet related EU requirements on farm registration, animal identification and movement controls.

The restrictions would only allow beef from a list of Brazilian farms considered to have met the requirements will be allowed into the bloc's markets, the commission said.

Shipments of de-boned and mature beef certified and sent before the deadline will be permitted until March 15, it added.

The statement claimed Brazilian beef presents no risk to human or animal health and the country is making efforts to meet the EU's requirements.

Brazil, the world's top beef exporter, also called for consultations between the two sides to settle the dispute.