June 22, 2010

Mercosur deal threatens Irish beef sector

 

A comprehensive trade deal between the EU and Mercosur would inflict losses of EUR350 million (US$434 million) on the Irish beef sector and decimate the tillage industry, the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has warned.

IFA president John Bryan told the EU Agriculture Commission's chef de cabinet, Georg Haeusler, that the bi-lateral discussions with the South American trading group posed a serious threat to the viability of the beef sector in Ireland.

Bryan told Commission officials that any attempt to increase beef imports from Mercosur - which includes Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay - would have devastating consequences for Ireland's livestock sector.

John Bryan said concessions to Mercosur could inflict losses of EUR350 million on the Irish beef sector and would drive the national beef cow herd down the same road as the sugar beet industry.

He once again questioned the production standards of beef imports from Brazil and accused the EU Commission of failing in its duty to safeguard European consumers and of undermining the viability of European producers by raising the prospect of increased beef imports from South America.

He said the impact of a deal on the pig, poultry and beef sectors would also be felt by tillage farmers, with outlets for 1.8 million tonnes of grain being closed off.

"A Mercosur trade deal would shut out the pig and poultry industry, which uses close on one million tonnes of native cereal and decimate our beef sector which uses a further 800,000 tonnes," Bryan said.

He called on the Irish government to mount an all-out campaign in Europe to prevent a "sell-out" of Irish and European agriculture in any Mercosur trade deal.

The Commission has insisted that any agreement would not be detrimental to the EU farm sector. Talks between Commission officials and Mercosur representatives are due to start in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires next week.