The UFU says any inclusion of beef quotas within the Mercosur trade negotiations will be a reckless decision. The comments were made after a Mercosur trade event hosted by Jim Nicholson MEP in the European Parliament.

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UFU deputy president Victor Chesnutt says, “Farmers in Northern Ireland and across Europe remain very angry that the European Commission continues to entertain the inclusion of beef within the Mercosur trade negotiations.  These are extremely reckless actions from the Commission and are putting the entire beef industry at risk.  

“Farmers across Europe produce beef to world leading standards for traceability, animal welfare and food safety.  Time and time again it has been shown that the Mercosur states cannot match these standards and this has clearly been highlighted by the recent scandal in Brazil.  The continued failure of Brazil to address the concerns that have emerged from this scandal completely undermines any credibility there is in these negotiations and clearly highlights an unacceptable level of dual standards.

The UFU deputy president continued: “If the Commission continues to pursue the inclusion of beef in this deal there can be no doubt of the devastating impact this will have on the European beef industry.  This would have an unacceptable impact on family farms, the rural economy, the environment and rural communities.”

Copa-Cogeca have previously estimated that a deal with Mercosur could potentially cause EU agriculture losses of €13 billion, with beef farmers seeing revenue drop by around €3bn. In the UK concerns remain over the impact of a deal on our meat sector, both in terms of increasing imports and their downward effect on domestic prices.

After the event Jim Nicholson said:“The latest round of talks between the EU and Mercosur are taking place in Brazil this week. According to reports, these negotiations are moving at a fast pace and the Commission is keen to have a deal agreed by the new year.”