Ban Brazilian Beef Now says UUP MEP Jim Nicholson
Following the latest report from the EU’s Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) into the standards of Brazilian beef and other Brazilian produce, UUP MEP Jim Nicholson has said that urgent steps must be taken to ban the import of Brazilian beef and other produce such as honey, eggs and pig meat which Mr Nicholson says are “clearly not up to EU standards.”
Brazil exported almost 19, 808 tonnes of pig meat and 250,000 tonnes of beef into the EU in 2004 alone.
Speaking from Brussels Mr Nicholson said,
“The report from the FVO into the quality and standards of Brazilian beef is absolutely damning. It is clear from this report that Brazilian beef and other produce does not even come close to reaching European standards.
“Incredibly most of the deficiencies found in the 2003 FVO report have still not been rectified and many of the actions that the Brazilian authorities promised to take did not actually happen.
“The fact that drugs such as clenbuterol (angel dust) are widely and openly available without control is a major concern and must mean that such beef is unacceptable in Europe and should be banned immediately. This report supports what I and others have been saying for sometime. The US has already taken steps to ban Brazilian imports and I think it’s about time the EU did the same.
“The farming community in Northern Ireland is acutely aware of the impact cheap Brazilian imports have had on the market here. Low priced beef from Brazil has clearly contributed to a crash in the cattle market. At present Northern Ireland’s farmers must comply with the high standards laid down by the EU in terms of health, food safety and traceability so why shouldn’t imports coming into the EU from other countries do the same?
“It is my intention to raise the issue in the European Parliament as soon as possible.”