EU Brazilian beef block a ‘significant victory’ for Longford shoppers and farmers

Longford farmers have received a major boost with Brazilian beef set to be banned from the European Union from September 3 according to a Longford MEP Ciaran Mullooly.

The Lanesboro native described the European Commission’s final decision to remove Brazil from the authorised list of countries to export beef and certain meat products to the EU as a ‘significant victory for European consumers and farmers.

Mr Mullooly said he was engaged in talks over the weekend with officials in the office of Olivér Várhelyi the European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare.

He stated over the last seven days there had been renewed speculation that some Isolated Brazillian farms with tagged animals would gain access to the European markets with their beef.

However, Mr Mullooly said the EU commissioner’s office has categorically denied that this is now possible.

The Independent Ireland MEP said he has campaigned for months at both European and national level against Brazilian beef entering the EU where there are serious concerns over whether production, traceability and food-safety standards can meet those required of European farmers.

He stated the decision vindicated the concerns raised by farmers and food-safety experts.

“For many months I have raised the health and food-safety concerns surrounding Brazilian meat entering the European food chain. "Today, our efforts have succeeded.

“I want to congratulate the thousands of farmers who supported our campaign against Brazilian beef imports into Ireland and the European Union.

"The enormous mobilisation of farmers in Athlone earlier this year demonstrated the strength of feeling on this issue. “This shows that people power, when backed up by scientific evidence and legitimate food-safety concerns, can make a difference.”

Mr Mullooly said the contribution of renowned veterinary and public-health expert Professor Patrick Wall had been particularly important in highlighting the fundamental differences between European and Brazilian production and control systems.

“Professor Wall made a powerful evidence-based case regarding the weaknesses in the Brazilian production and traceability system and the difficulty in demonstrating compliance with the high food-safety standards demanded within the European Union.

"Irish and European farmers operate under some of the strictest food-safety, animal-health, traceability and environmental standards in the world.

"It is completely unacceptable to expect them to compete against imported products that cannot demonstrate compliance with equivalent standards.”