Sinn Féin MEPs Kathleen Funchion and Lynn Boylan have said the banning of Brazilian beef and other products from the EU from September, “vindicates opposition to the Mercosur deal on public health grounds, and the Farmers Journal/IFA investigation into unsafe practices in Brazilian beef production”.
Brazil has been excluded from a list of countries allowed to export agricultural produce to the EU due to their laissez faire use of antibiotics in food production.
Speaking from Kilkenny, MEP Funchion said:
“This decision, unfortunately taken after the undemocratic provisional application of the Mercosur deal, vindicates the concerns of many that Brazilian beef is not compliant with EU rules and is a threat to public health.
“This is a welcome acknowledgement of the issues with Brazilian beef production. The decision will contribute to protecting public health and tackling microbial resistance to antibiotics, which is a serious health concern globally.
“However, this decision comes as no surprise because we knew already that practices in Brazil were far from compliant, thanks to the investigation by the Farmers Journal and the IFA.
“Those MEPs who supported Mercosur despite knowing this have questions to answer.
“We in Sinn Féin will continue to protect the interests of Irish farmers. Mercosur is still a bad deal that threatens family farm incomes, the environment, and European democratic norms and must be opposed.”
Speaking from Dublin, MEP Boylan said:
“It has been clear from the outset that Brazilian beef does not meet the food safety standards we have here in the EU.
“The Commission have acted in an incredibly bad faith manner in order to advance their agenda of ramming through Mercosur with as little scrutiny as possible.
“Public health cannot be undermined to serve the interests of multinationals who benefit from agreements such as Mercosur and the decision to provisionally apply the agreement needs to be revoked.
“Sinn Féin will always stand for food safety and public health, and we will continue to vigorously oppose Mercosur.”
