The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has said Brazilian meat imports into Europe should be blocked, following allegations of corruption and the sale of sub-standard meat from Brazil.
Brazil, the world’s biggest exporter of red meat, is at the centre of international attention due to a widespread beef scandal that could seriously damage the country’s reputable sector.
UFU president Barclay Bell said he is 'shocked' that Brazilian meat processors allegedly sold the meat, some of which was treated with carcinogenic products.
He said: “It's disturbing to hear that this been happening for some time and that processors may have bribed government officials to secure hygiene certificates for this meat,” said Mr Bell.
'Immediate ban'
The UFU president said this went against everything farmers in the UK work to achieve, in terms of producing meat to the highest quality standards.
“This underlines the importance of consumers putting their trust in food sourced from farms in the UK, produced to world-leading quality and traceability standards,” said, Mr Bell. He added that the response by the EU should be an immediate trade ban, to protect consumers while investigations continue.
These claims emerged as trade discussions take place between the EU and the Mercosur countries of South America.
The UFU says that with the UK seeking post-Brexit trade deals, reports of meat being sold on the back of bribes underline the need for protection from imports produced to standards far below UK and EU standards.
“It is of critical importance that politicians in Belfast, London and Brussels raise with trade officials the concerns of the farming industry has about these reports from Brazil. We cannot accept that our industry, or consumers, are put at risk by imports from countries where serious allegations have been made of fraud and corruption in their food industry,” warned Mr Bell.
