UK and Irish farmers’ claim Brazil’s beef exports fail to meet EU standards

Friday, July 9th 2010 - 01:58 UTC

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The UK National Farmers Union, NFU and Irish Farmers' Association have expressed concern about the reopening trade talks with the Mercosur group of South American countries because of the impact it could have on farmers.

The president of the NFU Peter Kendall and the president of the IFA John Bryan held a bilateral meeting in London during which they outlined their strong reservations.

They said the outcome could seriously damage important livestock, pig, poultry and grain sectors across both Britain and Ireland.

Mr Kendall said that as part of the Mercosur discussion the EU Commission must recognise the fact that Irish and UK farmers operate to the highest standards of food safety, animal identification and welfare, as well as the environment.

“Beef imports from South America and particularly Brazil fail to meet all EU standards in these areas and the EU cannot allow an erosion of such important standards to European consumers and producers,” said Mr Kendall.

John Bryan said consumers expect that the EU will not accept increased beef imports from Brazil, that come at an unexpectedly high cost in terms of climate change and widespread destruction of the rainforest in the Pantanal and Amazon regions.

Categories: Economy, Politics, International.

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avargas2001
Doesn't China, India, Pakistan, Iran, Cuba, Palestine, Syria, N Korea or Mexico eat beef ?? The first three can eat more beef then Brazil could produse, good for the EU now they don't have to eat it, the cheaper it will be for the rest of us, on the up side we save the forest, analyst suguest China will more likely eat its grouth by 2050. This might give Brazil the oportunity to secure the Chinese market, Argentina had something similar with the soya grains in China but didn't last long, cause Argentina could have walked out with grains worth dubble the price of the contract price, and a stone throw away from India who has the hots for soya meals willing to pay what was worth. I think Brazil should play the waiting game go cknock some doors, before the EU change their mind.
Jul 09th, 2010 - 04:21 am 0
Forgetit87
This Kendall is clearly afraid of market competition. Canada attempted doing that against Brazil in the beginning of this decade. It embargoed Brazilian beef under the allegation that it could have been contaminated by the mad cow disease even though no such case of that had been reported in the country at that time. Canada regretted its decision bitterly.

This is how the EU, US, Canada, work. They try to enforce on developing countries an economic policy in favor of market opening - that is to say, in favour of foreign, mostly American and European, companies. But then they refuse to do the same to products exported by those very same developing nations. I doubt Brazil (and Argentina) will tolerate that.
Jul 09th, 2010 - 07:34 am 0
Think
2 Forgetit
Right again....
They want our markets to be wide open but when we reach their “standards” they just move the goal a few more yards.....
Quite un-sporty....
Jul 09th, 2010 - 07:41 am 0

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