Irish expert warns 'stronger checks/monitoring' required on imports of Brazil beef
Stronger checks and monitoring "should be a prerequisite to proceeding with imports of beef and beef products” from Brazil to the EU, according to one leading Irish expert.
Ahead of the official signing of the EU-Mercosur agreement later today (Saturday, January 17) Dr. Patrick Wall, Emeritus Professor, UCD Institute for Food and Health, said that EU farmers must operate under strict regulations in relation to pesticides residue, growth-promoting hormones and antibiotic growth promoters.
But according to Dr. Wall the "practical issue" is that some production systems in Mercosur countries can involve different authorised substances and use-patterns, so compliance relies heavily on robust residue monitoring, traceability and credible “system guarantees”.
However he said evidence from EU audit work shows that arrangements intended to guarantee EU-destined cattle or meat had never been treated with oestradiol "were ineffective, and that the Brazilian government authority responsible for health certification could not reliably attest compliance with EU rules".
Brazil
According to Dr. Wall if detection or enforcement is not strengthened in parallel with any increased import volume, the risks are with:
- Non-compliant residues entering the EU market - with impacts on public-health, antimicrobial resistance and consumer confidence;
- That it would no longer be a fair, level playing field between EU farmers and foreign exporters.
He believes that the Mercosur debate, is not primarily about whether chilled beef can arrive in the EU in good physical condition but whether upstream controls on hormones, antibiotics, pesticides and traceability guarantees are consistently strong enough to support the EU's required attestations at scale.
"Recent EU audit findings on Brazil’s ability to guarantee hormone-free status for EU-destined beef illustrate why enforcement assurance matters: if the system guarantees are weak, non-compliant products can enter despite good hygiene.
"Stronger checks and monitoring will require more resources and additional costs, but these should be highlighted at the outset and should be a prerequisite to proceeding with import of beef and beef products," Dr. Wall added.
Mercosur
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will today travel to Asuncion and together with Antonio Costa, president of the European Council, will meet with the President of Paraguay, Santiago Pena.
Presidents von der Leyen and Costa will then participate in the signing ceremony of the EU-Mercosur agreement.
European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maros Sefcovic, will sign the agreement of behalf of the EU.
