The fact that it took the Irish Farmers Association and the Irish Farmers Journal to expose the deficiencies inherent in the Brazilian cattle production and processing industry cast doubts on the efficacy of the EU’s veterinary and food safety system.

This was stated by Independent MEP Marian Harkin when she welcomed the decision of EU veterinary authorities to restrict beef exports from Brazil to EU countries.

“The investigation of Brazilian controls in the beef sector by Irish interests was first rubbished by representatives of the EU Food & Veterinary Office and was not supported by our Minister for Agriculture, but the pressure maintained by the IFA, supported by the Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament and members, such as myself, has forced this reassessment of non-compliance by Brazil with EU requirements”, she said.

It was evident that less than 5% of Brazilian beef met EU requirements and matched the standards demanded of EU farmers and if EU consumer interests were to be protected in the future, EU authorities had now to consider a full ban on Brazilian beef until it manifestly met full EU requirements, Independent MEP Marian Harkin said.