Fresh calls for ban on Brazilian beef

THE European Commission (EC) has again been urged to ban Brazilian beef imports following further claims the beef fails to meet European Union standards in the area of residue testing and food safety.

Irish Farmers Association Livestock Committee chairman John Bryan said the latest EU Food and Veterinary Office report on the control of residues and veterinary medicine in Brazil involves a litany of failures by the authorities there to meet EU standards.

“I am horrified to see that beef which fails to meet proper standards is accepted by the EU from Brazil, whereas it would automatically be skipped in Ireland by the vets and controls in our meat plants,” he said.

Mr Bryan said the EC cannot credibly assure consumers on beef standards in light of the latest report. The commission does not know the origin of cattle in Brazil in view of the failure on traceability and movement controls.

In addition, the EU does not know what veterinary and drug treatments have been administrated to animals in Brazil.

Meanwhile, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association president Malcolm Thompson said European Ombudsman, P Nikiforus Diamandouras, has agreed to examine a complaint made in August by ICSA and other members of Fairness for Farmers in Europe which alleges the EC failed to ban beef imports into the EU by Brazil.