EU urged to stop beef imports from South America following Russia ban

THE EU should suspend next week’s talks with the Mercosur countries on foot of a Russian ban on beef from 27 Brazilian plants, IFA president John Bryan said.

He said the ban imposed by the Russian authorities raises further questions about imports from South America. European farm lobbyists had previously voiced anger that the Mercosur trade talks would lead to low quality imports entering the EU.

Following a two-week inspection of Brazilian meat-processing plants, the Russian authorities put restrictions on 13 meat plants, adding to the ban which had been in place on 14 plants since 2010.