The Irish Government is to engage with the European Commission to ensure that all matters raised in the Irish Farmers Journal investigation into illegal antibiotic sales in Brazil are “fully assessed”, a Department of Agriculture spokesperson has said.
Earlier this month in Brazil, Irish Farmers Journal deputy editor and beef editor Adam Woods was able to purchase prescription-only antibiotics over the counter in agricultural supply stores, without any form of identification or proof that the antibiotic was needed.
The investigation was carried out in conjunction with the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA).
Reports in the Irish Farmers Journal investigation into the sale of animal antibiotics in Brazil "raise important issues and merit careful examination", the spokesperson said.
“Brazilian beef already enters the EU market and it is important to ensure that none of the unregulated products referenced in the investigation are used in its production.
“We have no evidence that this is the case, but these reports reinforce the need for continued vigilance,” the spokesperson said.
They added that it is important that the European Commission engages with the Brazilian authorities to “clarify the situation and verify the facts”.
Confidence
“As Ireland has consistently said - granting additional market access requires confidence that imported products meet standards equivalent to those applied within the EU.
“The Government will engage constructively with the European Commission to ensure that all matters raised are fully assessed,” they said.
On the deal itself, the spokesperson said that Government has concerns on the preferential access being given to Mercosur if South American farmers are not subject to the same sustainable farming standards as our Irish farmers.
The Government will engage constructively with the European Commission to ensure that all matters raised are fully assessed
“We have repeatedly emphasised that beef in particular is a very sensitive sector which is vulnerable to negative impacts from the Mercosur agreement.
"Irish farmers operate under high regulatory standards and it is important that any competing imports are produced under conditions that provide a level playing field.”
Standards
The Department spokesperson said that the EU has very stringent standards, known as sanitary and phytosanitary standards (SPS) , to protect human, animal and plant health.
Irish Farmers Journal deputy editor and beef editor Adam Woods with some of the prescription-only animal medicines he purchased in Brazil.
“These standards are amongst the highest in the world, are non-negotiable and must apply equally to food produced in EU member states and imported from third countries, to ensure the health and safety of European consumers.
“SPS standards remain unaltered regardless of trade agreements concluded by the EU.
Irish farmers operate under high regulatory standards
"In the case of third countries, the operation of the EU’s SPS regime includes risk assessments, audit/approval of the official control systems implemented by those third country competent authorities and border controls (documentary, identity and physical checks) on imported products carried out by EU member states, including Ireland, at EU border control posts,” they added.
In the context of the EU-Mercosur agreement, the European Commission has committed to increasing the number of audits and checks in third countries and to strengthening SPS controls on the ground.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Agriculture are also continuing to examine the additional safeguard measures proposed by the Commission in October and which were approved by the Council of the EU on Wednesday.
Read more
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The Irish Government is to engage with the European Commission to ensure that all matters raised in the Irish Farmers Journal investigation into illegal antibiotic sales in Brazil are “fully assessed”, a Department of Agriculture spokesperson has said.
Earlier this month in Brazil, Irish Farmers Journal deputy editor and beef editor Adam Woods was able to purchase prescription-only antibiotics over the counter in agricultural supply stores, without any form of identification or proof that the antibiotic was needed.
The investigation was carried out in conjunction with the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA).
Reports in the Irish Farmers Journal investigation into the sale of animal antibiotics in Brazil "raise important issues and merit careful examination", the spokesperson said.
“Brazilian beef already enters the EU market and it is important to ensure that none of the unregulated products referenced in the investigation are used in its production.
“We have no evidence that this is the case, but these reports reinforce the need for continued vigilance,” the spokesperson said.
They added that it is important that the European Commission engages with the Brazilian authorities to “clarify the situation and verify the facts”.
Confidence
“As Ireland has consistently said - granting additional market access requires confidence that imported products meet standards equivalent to those applied within the EU.
“The Government will engage constructively with the European Commission to ensure that all matters raised are fully assessed,” they said.
On the deal itself, the spokesperson said that Government has concerns on the preferential access being given to Mercosur if South American farmers are not subject to the same sustainable farming standards as our Irish farmers.
The Government will engage constructively with the European Commission to ensure that all matters raised are fully assessed
“We have repeatedly emphasised that beef in particular is a very sensitive sector which is vulnerable to negative impacts from the Mercosur agreement.
"Irish farmers operate under high regulatory standards and it is important that any competing imports are produced under conditions that provide a level playing field.”
Standards
The Department spokesperson said that the EU has very stringent standards, known as sanitary and phytosanitary standards (SPS) , to protect human, animal and plant health.
Irish Farmers Journal deputy editor and beef editor Adam Woods with some of the prescription-only animal medicines he purchased in Brazil.
“These standards are amongst the highest in the world, are non-negotiable and must apply equally to food produced in EU member states and imported from third countries, to ensure the health and safety of European consumers.
“SPS standards remain unaltered regardless of trade agreements concluded by the EU.
Irish farmers operate under high regulatory standards
"In the case of third countries, the operation of the EU’s SPS regime includes risk assessments, audit/approval of the official control systems implemented by those third country competent authorities and border controls (documentary, identity and physical checks) on imported products carried out by EU member states, including Ireland, at EU border control posts,” they added.
In the context of the EU-Mercosur agreement, the European Commission has committed to increasing the number of audits and checks in third countries and to strengthening SPS controls on the ground.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Agriculture are also continuing to examine the additional safeguard measures proposed by the Commission in October and which were approved by the Council of the EU on Wednesday.
Read more
Commission called on to investigate illegal antibiotic sales in Brazil
Brazil bombshell: illegal antibiotic trade exposed
Watch: Brazil's antibiotic trade exposed
Editorial: Brazilian beef antibiotic scandal exposed
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