Any trade deal with the Mercosur bloc must meet the European Union mandate in relation to agriculture, the European Commissioner for Agriculture, Phil Hogan, has said.

Responding to questions from Agra Facts this week at the post-Agrifish Council press conference, Commissioner Hogan said that further talks in Brussels in September would dictate how much progress is being made.

“[It will] allow negotiators to take stock of how far we can get between now and the end of the year.”

A formal round of negotiations is then to take place in October, with Commissioner Hogan noting a “moderation in expectations on the Mercosur side” in an effort to get the deal finalised in December.

A number of member states, including Ireland, called for caution in the bilateral talks with the Mercosur countries, in particular beef and sugar, according to Agra Facts.

Calls for the removal of beef from Mercosur

The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) has called for beef to be removed from the trade deal.

IFA national livestock chair Angus Woods has said EU authorities have to take note of the US Department of Agriculture decision to ban fresh Brazilian beef, following Operation Weak Flesh, and remove beef from any Mercosur deal.

Last week, the IFA Livestock leader welcomed the strong stance being taken by Minister Creed at the Beef Forum regarding opposition to an EU/Mercosur trade deal.

He said Minister Michael Creed made it absolutely clear to the Forum meeting that it is firmly the Government position that beef must be excluded from any Mercosur deal and he will be vigorously pursuing this in Brussels.

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