EU’s ‘double standards’ over beef traceability

THE livelihoods of 100,000 livestock farmers are at risk from Brazilian beef imports, the Irish Farmers’ Association claimed during a protest outside the European Commission offices in Dublin yesterday.

Pádraig Walshe, president of the 85,000-member IFA, accused the European Union of operating a regime of double standards on beef traceability. He said the EU was imposing the highest standards on Irish and European farmers and at the same time it was facilitating beef imports from Brazil where there are glaring deficiencies and lack of controls on beef production.

Mr Walshe, who accused Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan of doing a U-turn on the issue, called on her to demand a total ban on beef imports from Brazil. “They simply don’t meet EU standards. They will destroy our industry and cattle farmers will hold her responsible,” he said.