EU official questioned on illegal beef on Irish market

A senior EU official has been summoned before an Oireachtas Committee amid growing concerns about unregulated Brazilian meat being sold in Irish shops.

The all-party body on Agriculture and Food originally invited the EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, Markos Kyprianou but he was unavailable.

However the director general in the Commissioner’s office, Mr Robert Madelin then agreed to attend a committee meeting in Leinster House on Tuesday afternoon.

A recent joint IFA/Irish Farmers Journal research trip to South America cited totally inadequate foot-and-mouth disease controls, non-existent animal traceability, widespread environmental degradation and social exploitation.

Up to 300 angry beef farmers occupied the Dawn Farm Foods meat-distribution plant in Naas in 2005 in protest over the sale of Brazilian beef in Ireland.

A statement from the committee said: “Members have expressed concern at the standards and control of Brazilian meat imported into the EU.

“Because of this, it was decided to invite officials to come before the committee to explain what action they have taken on the basis of the reports presented to them by the EU Food and Veterinary Office.”