Former Head of EU Food Safety confirms local MEP's concerns on traceability
Ciaran Mullooly MEP said public health, consumer confidence and the protection of Irish and European farming standards must remain the priority. Pic: Paul Molloy.
Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly and the party’s Agriculture spokesperson Michael Fitzmaurice TD have intensified calls for the continued suspension of Brazilian beef imports into the EU following fresh intervention from former European Food Safety Authority Chairman Dr Patrick Wall.
Dr Wall, who previously served as Chief Executive of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, has publicly backed concerns raised by MEP Mullooly that Brazil cannot meet the September 3rd 2026 deadline set by the European Commission to address serious concerns surrounding antimicrobial use, illegal growth promoters and traceability in Brazilian beef production.
Following a meeting with MEP Mullooly and Deputy Fitzmaurice, Dr Wall indicated he now expects to travel to Brussels in the coming weeks to meet EU officials and provide further expert evidence supporting the continuation of the ban.
Speaking following the meeting, Dr Wall said: “The Brazilian authorities now have three months to get their act together and I don’t believe this will be possible. The animals being brought to slaughter this coming September will be two years old. We can't go back two years and retrospectively get reliable traceability.” Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly has now formally written to EU Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Olivér Várhelyi urging that Brazilian beef not be restored to the EU approved import list until full scientific guarantees are in place.
MEP Mullooly said public health, consumer confidence and the protection of Irish and European farming standards must remain the priority: “We cannot compromise on food safety standards or consumer trust. Serious concerns remain regarding traceability, antimicrobials and illegal growth promoters and those concerns must be fully addressed before any consideration is given to lifting this ban.” Independent Ireland Agriculture Spokesperson Michael Fitzmaurice TD said the Irish Government must now urgently raise the matter directly with the European Commission and other EU member states.
“It is critically important that Ireland sends a strong message that food safety and farming standards cannot be sacrificed. Farmers and consumers need certainty and confidence that imports entering the EU meet the same standards demanded of Irish producers.”
Independent Ireland Leader Michael Collins TD praised both Deputy Fitzmaurice and MEP Mullooly for what he described as their “dogged determination” in pursuing the issue.
“I want to commend Michael Fitzmaurice and Ciaran Mullooly for their relentless work in standing up for Irish farmers, food standards and consumers. They have pursued this issue consistently and responsibly and Independent Ireland will continue to fight to ensure the highest possible standards are protected.”
