IFA seeks Brazil beef import ban

IRISH Farmers Association president Padraig Walshe has presented European Commission officials with the findings of last week’s fact-finding mission to Brazil in relation to controls and standards in that country’s beef sector.

Mr Walshe said there is no way the commission or European supermarkets can any longer pretend that Brazilian beef imports are anywhere near satisfying EU standards and consumer expectations.

The IFA has called on the EU to impose an immediate ban on Brazilian beef imports.

Livestock committee chairman John Bryan said evidence was found during the IFA-Farmers Journal visit to Brazil of non existent cattle traceability, widespread illegal removal and cutting out of tags.

He said the controls over cattle movement, foot and mouth disease, and the use of hormone growth promoters in Brazil were totally inadequate. “By accepting Brazilian beef imports, which clearly fall below European standards, the commission is failing in its duty to both consumers and producers in Europe,” he said.

Meanwhile, the ICMSA said it had told Meat Industry Ireland that the prices being returned to farmers are unsustainable and threaten the future of winter finishing in Ireland.

Beef and cattle committee chairman Martin McMahon said that unless beef prices increase immediately, farmers will scale back production or move to a system of finishing animals off grass.