The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has suspended all imports of fresh beef from Brazil because of recurring concerns about the safety of the products, whilst the EU has been criticised for not doing enough.
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.
The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) said the decision by USDA echoes its concerns that sanctions by the European Union have not matched the scale of shortcomings highlighted by allegations of bribery to allow the export of sub-standard meat.
UFU president Barclay Bell said: “It is wrong that the European Commission is pressing ahead with attempts to secure a free trade deal with the Mercosur countries of South America, when there is such a big question mark over the fitness of one of the key players to export food.
“We agree with other farm lobby organisations that these talks should be delayed until that is resolved. We know Commission veterinary officials have visited Brazil, and the Commission is suggesting the problems found can be resolved.
“We would like to see their report in full, so that we can decide whether this is an effective approach. If the Commission will not make that report public, I would urge MEPs to press for its release,” said Mr Bell.
Full scale ban
The UFU president said that nothing that had emerged from the Commission or in Brazil had altered his view that a full scale ban on imports of Brazilian beef to Europe should be implemented immediately.
“If the US believes that is appropriate, the Commission must explain why it is adopting a more forgiving stance towards the widespread flouting of global trading rules by Brazil,” he added.
UK farming unions have been quick to criticise Brazil in its handling of the issue.
The UFU has previously called for Brazilian imports to be blocked.
The UFU says that revelations about corruption and fraud in the Brazilian meat industry are 'damning'.
The controlling shareholder of the world's largest meat-packing company, JBS, has agreed to pay a record 10.3bn real (£2.4bn) fine for its role in Brazil's corruption scandals.
