Food safety experts call for tougher EU oversight after Brazil audit

Microbiology experts warn Ireland’s strict regulatory regime was not being matched by controls in South American exporting countries

Dr Patrick Wall highlighted the system designed to guarantee beef exported to the EU had never been treated with the prohibited hormone oestradiol17b was ‘ineffective’.

Serious questions are being raised about the Mercosur trade deal after food safety and microbiology experts warned Ireland’s strict regulatory regime was not being matched by controls in South American exporting countries.

The analysis, collated by the All‑Ireland Science Media Centre, highlighted recent EU audit findings and a December recall of Brazilian beef in Ireland have intensified farmers’ concerns.