Members of the Irish Farmers Association protesting against the signing of the controversial Mercosur Agreement. Photo courtesy IFAIreland11-RFP-011926
A huge row has erupted over beef imported into Ireland and other EU countries from Brazil, as part of the shipment contained banned growth hormones.
It has been confirmed that 128 kilograms of the beef haul was from animals that had been treated with oestradiol, a growth-promoting hormone banned in the EU.
The beef first entered Northern Ireland before it was then distributed to three operators in the Republic of Ireland. All of the beef is now subject to a recall by the Food Standards Agency in Northern Ireland and their counterparts in the Republic, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
This conformation, which was first detected in the beef shipment at the end of last year, now places great opposition to the signing of the Mercosur Agreement.
In fact, Ireland is set to vote against the ratification of the EU-Mercosur trade deal, but that may not be enough to stop it across the entire union’s 27 Member States.
If approved, the controversial deal would allow Mercosur countries, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, to export up to 99,000 tonnes of beef into the EU with a much-reduced tariff rate of 7.5%, as well as 180,000 tonnes of poultry.
Farmers across the EU have been protesting against the deal saying it will bring in unwanted beef, and other meat products, produced to inferior quality standards than in Ireland.
A WAKE-UP CALL
Irish Farmers Association President Francie Gorman said the confirmation that Brazilian beef containing banned hormones entered the Irish food chain should be a wake-up call for the Irish Government.
Members of the Irish Farmers Association protesting against the signing of the controversial Mercosur Agreement. Photo courtesy IFAIreland11-RFP-011926Francie said, “This shows that the undertaking from Brazil about the processes they have in place are completely flawed and wholly ineffective.
“This EU audit which uncovered these hormones is getting worse and worse, with more EU countries being embroiled. The EU must publish the full details of this immediately and before there is any vote on the Mercosur deal.
“In 2024, another EU audit found that the Brazilian system to stop hormones entering the EU food chain could not be relied upon. We were told by the EU that Brazil implemented an action plan to address this.
“Yet, hormones have now entered the EU and Irish food chain. This has to be a red line for the Irish Government on Mercosur.
IFA president Francie Gorman said the Irish Government needs to wake up and vote against the Mercosur Agreement. Photo courtesy IFAIreland10-RFP-011926“The question is are Brazil misleading the EU or are the EU misleading their citizens. We need full disclosure immediately,” he said.
Dale Crammond, Director of Meat Industry Ireland said, “Alongside the farm organizations, our beef members remain extremely frustrated with the potential ratification of this flawed agreement.
“The well-publicized differences in production, sustainability and traceability standards between the EU and the Mercosur region have once again come to light over recent days with the news that Brazilian product that had been treated with illegal substances was subject to a recall here in Ireland.”
Meanwhile, farmers across other EU countries have held protest voicing their opposition to the Mercosur deal, particularly in France.
Farmers blocked major roads, ports and border crossings ahead of the big vote on Friday.
With Germany and Spain backing the deal, it is widely anticipated that the vote to accept the Mercosur Agreement will go through in the European Parliament despite the best efforts from farmers to try and derail it.
Irish farmers fear their industry will be hurt as Mercosur countries do not adhere to same welfare production levels as EU. Photo by Chris McCulloughIreland14-RFP-011926