Commission denies beef report cover-up

THE European Commission yesterday rejected claims by the Irish Farmers’ Association that it had covered up a report on issues relating to Brazilian beef exports.

IFA members staged an overnight sit-in at the Commission offices in Dublin city centre and also held a lunchtime protest.

They claimed a report of an inspection visit to Brazil last March by the European Union Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) had been suppressed by the Health and Consumer Affairs Commissioner, Markos Kyprianou.