Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has said that the potential ban on Brazilian beef entering the EU is a very “clear shot” at the country and if they are being found not to meet the rules then Brazil cannot continue to expect to get access to our market.
The Minister told the Irish Farmers Journal that he and other ministers for agriculture on the Agri Fish Council would have pushed the Commission on the issue previously, with the European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Olivér Várhelyi holding responsibility in this space.
Heydon said that opposition to the Mercosur trade deal in Ireland was made very clear through all of the sensitivities and discussions that took place around it on the Brazil’s different environmental, food safety and health standards.
He said that across Europe there is clear agreement that health standards and SPS standards on protecting human, animal and plant health while facilitating trade are non-negotiable.
“The recall of Brazilian beef last year highlighted the very real concerns that people had in that regard in that space,” the Minister said.
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