Farmers protest at beef imports from South America

A group of around 40 farmers is staging a sit-in protest at the European Commission offices in Dublin, against the opening of the EU market to beef imports from South America.

The members of the Irish Farmers Association National Livestock Committee want the new Government to urge the European Commission against any deal which would allow countries such as Brazil sell beef to Europe.

The farmers are threatening to continue the protest for 24 hours.

IFA president John Bryan said farmers were protesting at opening markets to countries where "animals have no traceability. They use hormones that are banned in Europe. We're being very critical of the EU's lack of standards on imports."

The EU is to restart negotiations on imports from South American countries next week.