Sinn Féin MEP for Midlands North-West Matt Carthy has questioned the European Commissioner’s commitment to protect Irish poultry farmers and consumer interests amid “arrogant” Mercosur statements.

Carthy, who is a member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, said that while there has rightly been a focus on the importation of Brazilian beef products into Europe, a blind eye has been turned to poultry products, to which equally concerning questions have been raised.

Carthy spoke on the matter during the European Parliament’s plenary sitting in Strasbourg on Monday evening.

Carthy said that in a letter from the Brazilian authorities received this week by MEPs sitting on the agriculture and rural development committee, it has come to light that, during 2016, a total of 184 international notifications were received concerning animal products of Brazilian origin. These irregularities were related to microbiological, physical and chemical standard violations, among other irregularities, but are downplayed by the authorities.

This is an insult to farmers and consumers alike

“I find it extremely concerning that while we may have yet to discover the full extent of this scandal, no precautionary measures are being taken by the European Commission,” Carthy said.

“Less than one week after the discovery of the cover-up, the European Commission publicly repeated their intention to conclude a free trade agreement with the Mercosur block, which includes Brazil, ‘as soon as possible’,” Carthy continued.

“This is an insult to farmers and consumers alike, who are now questioning in whose interests this deal is being negotiated.

“Last May, Commissioner Hogan announced that beef was temporarily off the negotiating table in Mercosur talks. However, no such promise or commitment was made in relation to protecting our poultry sector. Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of chicken, with its poultry exports to the EU far outweighing those of beef. Poultry is also the largest category of meat consumed in Ireland, accounting for 37% of meat consumption.”

Last week, the Irish Farmers Journal reported that although Brazil is one of the largest exporters of poultry meat, just 3% of these exports came into Ireland in 2016.

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