MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mercosur/EU extend sanitary cooperation in agriculture and livestock

EU office in Montevideo

Mercosur and the European Union signed this week an extension of an agreement for the financing of an agriculture and livestock health cooperation project according to the UE delegation office in Montevideo.

The EU-Mercosur project which was extended until May 2011 anticipates the harmonization of rules, regulations, veterinary and phytosanitary procedures, food innocuity and differentiated farm production.

In practical terms it means a greater integration of the four Mercosur full members (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) for the promotion of a system of agreed food controls and equivalents.

The budget for the project is 7 million Euros (approx 10 million US dollars) of which the EU will supply six and the rest the four countries.

According to the terms of what was agreed, during 2010 a long agenda of activities are programmed including seminars, work shops and courses on good agriculture and livestock practices.

An important chapter will be preparing staff for animal and vegetal risk analysis with the purpose of adapting food production in Mercosur countries to the current challenges in food innocuity and sanitation.

The different Mercosur departments linked to agriculture will be also receiving special support to strengthen good management and negotiations with third countries in these fields.

The extension of cooperation follows a recent confirmation of the EU support for programs in Uruguay to the tune of 31 million Euros, for the period 2007/2013 and which will be distributed: 18.5 million for social and territorial cohesion and 12.5 million for the promotion of innovation, scientific research and economic development.