Farmers across the EU have warned the European Commission not to accept cheap meat imported from South American trade bloc Mercosur, which is considered to be produced at poorer standards.
The Commission’s proposal to offer Brazil and other South American countries further access to the EU market for beef and poultry as part of the Mercosur trade negotiations has led to anger.
The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) said it is "extremely alarmed". The comments come after the Commission is reported to have offered a 70,000 tonnes tariff rate quota for beef.
The union said the deal is an "unwelcome distraction" from Brexit.
The UFU president Barclay Bell said: “The reported proposals, that the European Commission are considering including beef in the Mercosur deal is a very unwelcome distraction from the ongoing Brexit negotiations.
“Finding constructive solutions to the challenges that Brexit presents should be the priority for both the UK government and the European Union.
“But despite this, reports continue to circulate that the Commission is going to offer a substantial beef quota to a trading bloc that cannot meet European production standards.
“Farmers in the UK continue to produce beef that complies with leading standards for traceability, food safety, animal health and the environment.
“Yet the Commission appears determined to undermine all of this by making a trade proposal that would decimate European beef production.”
“The Mercosur states are already supplying up 75 percent of the third country beef imports to an EU market, which has seen falling meat consumption over the last decade. Offering Mercosur greater access would be a fatal mistake and is something which our elected representatives must oppose.”
The Mercosur countries of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay had previously said an offer without beef in particular could not lead to a deal.
Last week, 11 EU nations led by France and Ireland proposed postponing the farm trade offer to Mercosur until rules can be agreed to avoid unfair competition.
The farming industry has said Brazil has lost all credibility in the wake of the Brazilian meat scandal.
