It was a year ago last weekend that a Brazilian police investigation - Operation Weak Flesh - revealed practices in the county's meat industry that hit beef exports.

Reuters is now reporting on the latest phase of the investigation, which has led to Brazil’s ministry of agriculture suspending 10 poultry plants from exporting to the EU. Brazilian ministry officials are understood to be in discussions this week with DG Sante in Brussels.

Meanwhile, the IFA president Joe Healy has said the European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström is "extremely naive" to believe that the Brazilians are going to conform to the rules in any Mercosur trade agreement with the EU, especially with regard to meeting EU standards on beef or other meat imports.

Healy has accused the commissioner of being "out of her depth in these negotiations", saying the Brazilians are "pulling the wool over her eyes" on the critical issue of standards.

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Brazilian beef exports plunge in wake of meat scandal