Macra has welcomed the suspension of Brazilian beef and other animal products imports into the EU, describing the move as a significant step towards protecting a level playing field for Irish and European farmers.

The suspension follows concerns over Brazil’s compliance with EU requirements relating to the use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals.

Brazil has been excluded from the list of countries authorised to export these products to the EU until it can demonstrate compliance with the bloc’s requirements.

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Macra president Josephine O’Neill said the decision was particularly important for young farmers attempting to establish viable farm businesses while meeting stringent European standards.

“The decision to suspend Brazilian beef imports from Thursday is a welcome and significant development for Irish agriculture and particularly for young farmers, who are trying to build viable businesses while meeting some of the highest food safety, animal health, traceability and environmental standards in the world,” she said.

Mercosur

Macra said the move also reinforced its opposition to the EU-Mercosur trade agreement and highlighted the importance of enforcing equivalent standards on imported produce.

“There cannot be one rulebook for European farmers and another for imports,” O’Neill said.

“If Europe sets high standards for its own farmers, those standards must be independently verified and enforced for every product entering the EU market.”

The organisation said the issue was ultimately about fairness for young farmers who are being asked to invest heavily in meeting high European standards while competing in increasingly challenging markets.

O’Neill said a level playing field was also important if the EU was serious about generational renewal in agriculture.

Macra said the suspension must be more than a temporary measure and called for rigorous verification of compliance before Brazilian beef exports to the EU are permitted to resume.