IFA call to scrap South American trade talks over Brazilian standards

THE IFA has urged the European Commission to abandon trade talks with the Mercosur group of South American countries after the US stopped contaminated Brazilian beef products entering the country.

John Bryan, president, said the latest confirmation by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) that Brazilian beef had again failed to meet acceptable food safety standards underlines the need for an immediate rethink by the Commission on the Mercosur trade talks.

He said the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service had stopped contaminated Brazilian beef imports from entry into the US. In addition, he said a product recall has been issued on some Brazilian beef products in the US, where restrictions already limit imports from the South American country to cooked products only.