Farmers Protest Over Brazilian Beef
IRELAND - About 100 farmers protested outside the offices of the European Commission today accusing the EU of "double standards" on the traceability of beef.
26 July 2007
1 minute read
The farmers claim evidence gathered by the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) in Brazil in May shows that the country is flouting procedures on cattle traceability and that animals are also being injected with illegal hormones.
According to the IFA, its inspection in Brazil also uncovered widespread and illegal removal of tags from cattle by Brazilian farmers.
Addressing the gathering on Dawson Street in Dublin, IFA president Padraig Walshe said there was "overwhelming evidence" that the EU Food and Veterinary Office was "turning a blind eye to the glaring deficiencies and lack of controls on beef production in Brazil".
Mr Walshe said Ireland's Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan was "aiding and abetting the European Commission bureaucrats" in the cover-up of double standards on beef imports from Brazil.
"I want to say to Minister Coughlan today, the livelihoods of 100,000 livestock farmers are at risk," he said.
The IFA president called on the Minister to demand a total ban on imports from Brazil, which he said did not meet EU standards.
Source: Irish Times
