Cowen urged to plead case with EU Commission to halt beef imports

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen was urged by the Irish Farmers Association yesterday to intervene with the European Commission at the highest level to defend the beef sector against what it described as a real threat of increased imports from Brazil and other South American countries.

IFA president John Bryan, speaking in Brussels, said he was very concerned about Commission moves to re-open discussions with Brazil and other South American countries with a view to agreeing a bilateral deal on agriculture.

“Any attempt to increase beef imports from Brazil and South America would have devastating consequences for our livestock sector.

“The Taoiseach must insist that this matter is not progressed and convey in the strongest terms to the EU Commission the damage an increase in imports would have on the future growth potential of the agri-food sector, and Ireland’s economic recovery,” he said.

Mr Bryan said the latest move by President Barosso to increase beef imports from Brazil, where production fails to comply with European standards, shows that the Commission is failing in its duty to safeguard European consumers and is undermining European producers.

He said Irish and European farmers operate to the highest international standards of food safety, animal identification and traceability with strict controls on animal medicines and animal disease.

“European consumers believe that all beef on sale in Europe meets these standards and have a right to expect no double standards in the Commission’s import policy.

The IFA president said that European consumers also expect that the EU will not accept beef imports from Brazil, which are produced at a real cost in terms of climate change involving widespread destruction of rainforests.

“The production, environmental and social practices in Brazil fly in the face of EU controls and standards.

“There is no way the EU Commission can pretend Brazilian beef imports come anywhere near satisfying EU standards and consumer expectations,” he said.