An independent audit on poultry products being imported into the EU from Mercosur countries is needed, according to IFA poultry chair Andy Boylan.

Boylan said it is clear the European Commission is unable to check the product coming in.

“The biggest problem we see is undermining the standards of European food production. Our system of quality-assured food is being completely undermined by taking a product from Brazil which has no standards whatsoever,” Boylan said.

Up to 180,000t of tariff-free poultry has been offered to Mercosur countries – twice the amount offered in 2017.

Boylan said there would be serious implications for Ireland, particularly areas like Cavan and Monaghan where there are two beef plants and a poultry plant.

He said there were few other opportunities for those area: “I don’t think Google, Intel, or PayPal is going to come running down to Shercock any time soon.”