The campaign mounted by the Irish Farmers Association and the Irish Farmers Journal to highlight deficiencies in Brazilian beef production and marketing appears to be bearing fruit.

This was stated by Independent MEP Marian Harkin when she said that there were strong indications that some form of restriction would be imposed on Brazilian beef exports to the EU.  Speaking from Strasbourg, Deputy Harkin said that despite the fact that the report by Commissioner for Consumer Protection Markos Kyprianou was not reached at today’s European Commission meeting there were strong indications that he intended to take some form of action in response to the recent visit by the EU Food & Veterinary Office (FVO).

The FVO Report revealed significant deficiencies in relation to Foot & Mouth disease controls and traceability, she said, and it was believed that Commissioner Kyprianou would act on it’s findings by proposing restrictions.

“This would, to my mind, be in the interest of EU consumers whose health as far as EU beef production is concerned, is rightly and effectively protected”, she said.

Having raised the issue on a number of occasions in the European Parliament, she was hopeful that there would be a more even playing pitch for EU beef producers in the future.