Livestock farmers warn against EU trade deal with Mercosur

THE prospect of trade talks to remove trade barrier between Europe and South America has raised concerns within the European beef industry.

Proposals for high-level negotiations with the Mercosur (Mercado Comun del Sur) group of South American countries – Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela – have been proposed within the EU.

But, so far, eight European countries – Austria, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg and Poland – have expressed concerns over concessions that may result in more Brazilian or Argentine beef coming into the EU.

Speaking from Brussels, Irish Farmers' Association president John Bryan described the talks as having "damaging implications". He called on Taoiseach Brian Cowen to ensure Irish livestock interests were safeguarded at the summit in Madrid.

He also called on the new EU agriculture commissioner, Dacian Ciolos, to defend the Irish and European livestock sectors by resisting any move to reopen trade deal talks with Mercosur.

In Bryan's opinion, "any deal would be hugely damaging for the livestock sector in Ireland. This is the first real test of the new commission to defend the family farm structure across Europe and put a stop to this disastrous proposal".

IFA Livestock chairman Michael Doran said the commission could not ignore the implications of a Mercosur deal involving Brazilian beef, a sector which has been responsible for destroying 2 million hectares of rainforest per annum, an area half the size of Ireland.

By accepting Brazilian beef imports, the EU Commission would be placing European consumers and the important EU livestock sector "at an unacceptable and unnecessary risk."

Concern was also expressed by the European grouping of farmers and farm co-operatives, Copa-Cogeca, with their president, Padriag Walshe, warning: "Mercosur countries do not have to respect the same standards. They use growth promoters in their meat production even though they are banned in the EU. They have poor antibiotic controls. Their labour conditions are unacceptable by EU standards."

While the political leaders concentrated their concerns over the import of beef, any trade deal would also affect poultry, wheat, citrus fruit and juice imports, all of which are produced in Mercosur countries.