19 July 2007

2 minute read

Europe

Local farmers will also hear first hand about serious failings in the Brazilian beef industry when UFU beef, lamb and hill farming members attend a special meeting in Cookstown this evening (Wednesday), which will be addressed by John Bryan, Chairman of the Irish Farmers’ Association Livestock Committee. Mr Bryan, who has visited Brazil to monitor production standards, will raise serious questions about inadequate traceability and movement controls in the Brazilian beef industry. He will also raise concerns about poor animal medicine controls and ineffective foot and mouth control measures in the country. The IFA has also highlighted serious environmental and social consequences of beef production in Brazil.

UFU president Kenneth Sharkey said the Brazilian beef issue has to be addressed; “The EU Commission must act; a ban on Brazilian beef imports is long overdue. The Commission can’t strictly regulate local farmers but ignore failings in the production of imported beef. Other countries such as Australia and the USA have pro-actively banned Brazilian beef and the EU Commission should do likewise. It’s also time to see country of origin labeling introduced in our local food service sector. Beef sold in supermarkets by law has to display the country of origin. We want this extended to the food service sector so that consumers can see for themselves where their beef is produced. This was part of our five point plan to the restored Northern Ireland Assembly and we want to see this progressed urgently. Similar legislation is already in place in the Republic of Ireland and it is also being progressed in Scotland”.

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