Boost for Mayo farmers as Brazilian beef ban confirmed

Mayo farmers have received a boost after the European Commission confirmed that Brazil will be removed from the list of countries authorised to export certain meat products, including beef, to the EU from Thursday, September 3.

MEP Ciaran Mullooly welcomed the decision following renewed speculation over the past week that beef from certain Brazilian farms could still gain access to European markets.

The decision follows months of campaigning at both European and national level over concerns surrounding production, traceability and food safety standards in Brazil.

MEP Mullooly said the European Commission had now categorically confirmed that this would not be permitted, describing the move 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,” MEP Mullooly said.

He paid tribute to the thousands of farmers who supported the campaign, pointing to the large mobilisation of farmers in Athlone earlier this year as evidence of the strength of feeling.

“This shows that people power, when backed up by scientific evidence and legitimate food-safety concerns, can make a difference,” he said.

MEP Mullooly also highlighted the contribution of veterinary and public-health expert Professor Patrick Wall, who raised concerns about differences between Brazilian and European production and traceability systems.

He said Irish and European farmers operate under stringent food-safety, animal-health, traceability and environmental requirements and argued that imported food should be required to meet equivalent standards.

MEP Mullooly said the situation in Northern Ireland must now be closely monitored, as the UK has not taken the same approach as the EU regarding 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,” he said.

The Midlands-North-West MEP is seeking a meeting with farming representatives in Northern Ireland to discuss their concerns and proposals around the potential impact on agriculture and cross-border trade.

MEP Mullooly also said the EU decision sends a clear message that food safety should not be compromised in the pursuit of international trade agreements.

“The health and safety of our consumers must always take precedence over any trade agreement,” he said.

He added that agreements such as Mercosur must not become a route for food produced to standards that would not be acceptable in the EU to compete with Irish and European farmers.

“If European farmers are required to meet the highest standards in the world, then imports entering our market must meet those same standards,” he said. “There can be no double standard when it comes to the food we put on European consumers’ tables.”