EU Decision on Brazilian beef a 'significant victory' for Roscommon's consumers and farmers, says Mullooly 

Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly said he has campaigned for months at both European and national level against Brazilian beef entering the EU. 

He said there are serious concerns over whether production, traceability and food-safety standards in Brazil can meet those required of European farmers.

The MEP welcomed the European Commission’s final decision to remove Brazil from the list of countries authorised to export certain meat products, including beef, to the European Union, describing it as a significant victory for European consumers and farmers.

“For many months I have raised the health and food-safety concerns surrounding Brazilian meat entering the European food chain. Today, our efforts have succeeded,” he continued.

“I want to congratulate the thousands of farmers who supported our campaign against Brazilian beef imports into Ireland and the European Union. The enormous mobilisation of farmers in Athlone earlier this year demonstrated the strength of feeling on this issue.

“This shows that people power, when backed up by scientific evidence and legitimate food-safety concerns, can make a difference.” Mr Mullooly said the contribution of renowned veterinary and public-health expert Professor Patrick Wall had been particularly important in highlighting the fundamental differences between European and Brazilian production and control systems.

“Professor Wall made a powerful evidence-based case regarding the weaknesses in the Brazilian production and traceability system and the difficulty in demonstrating compliance with the high food-safety standards demanded within the European Union.

“Irish and European farmers operate under some of the strictest food-safety, animal-health, traceability and environmental standards in the world. It is completely unacceptable to expect them to compete against imported products that cannot demonstrate compliance with equivalent standards.” Mr Mullooly warned that particular attention must now be given to the situation in Northern Ireland, given that the United Kingdom has not followed the same approach as the European Union in relation to Brazilian beef.

“We must now be extremely vigilant about Brazilian beef entering Northern Ireland and the potential implications for farmers, processors and cross-border trade.” Mr Mullooly said the Commission’s action sends an important message that food safety cannot be compromised in pursuit of international trade agreements.

“The Commission has made the correct decision,” he said. “Trade agreements, including Mercosur, cannot become a back door through which food produced to standards that would not be acceptable within the European Union is placed in competition with Irish and European farmers.

“Our position remains very clear: if European farmers are required to meet the highest standards in the world, then imports entering our market must meet those same standards. There can be no double standard when it comes to the food we put on European consumers’ tables.”