đź•’ Created · Updated

Ciaran Mullooly is urged to intensify pressure on the EU to halt the Mercosur trade agreement following a ban on Brazilian beef.

The European Union has imposed a ban on beef and poultry products from Brazil starting September 3. The ban is a result of Brazilian operators failing to provide supply chain certification confirming that they have not used a specific antimicrobial banned in Europe during the rearing of cattle. While the ban does not pose a health risk to consumers, it has created economic concerns for various food producers. Ciaran Mullooly, an MEP for Independent Ireland, has been urged to redouble efforts to stop the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement. The Irish Livestock Exporters Association described the ban as a significant victory for food safety. However, Lorcan O’Dochartaigh of the association claimed that the same production practices that drew scrutiny in Brazil can be found in other Mercosur member states. O’Dochartaigh stated that the trade agreement legitimizes imports produced under regulatory regimes that do not mirror EU standards. The ban has caused an immediate shortfall of at least 25 percent of raw materials for Bresaola della Valtellina, a flagship Italian food product. Mario Moro, president of the Consorzio della Bresaola della Valtellina IGP, noted that the product relies on 60 percent of its raw material from Brazil. Moro expressed hope that Brazilian producers will act swiftly to implement the required certification system to resume exports.

Sources

Paywall and unreadable sources