ICSA anger over Brazilian beef rules

Brussels: An ICSA delegation has met with senior European Commission officials in Brussels to convey farmer concerns about the differences in traceability and animal identification requirements between Brazilian and EU beef producers.

ICSA president Malcolm Thompson, who led the delegation, said EU beef farmers could not understand why they were expected to compete on different terms against Brazilian imports.

“EU farmers are fed up with the ever-higher traceability and animal identification standards, the high penalties for the slightest shortcomings and then seeing their product undermined in retail and catering outlets by cheap Brazilian beef,” he said.