Officials from the European Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) briefed the committee on new rules to be brought into effect at the end of this month to restrict access by Brazilian beef to the EU's market. Mr Smith and other MEPs have called for a total ban on the grounds that there are serious question marks over Brazil's treatment of animals and control of disease. These concerns were highlighted last year when the Scottish Beef Cattle Association submitted a petition to the European Parliament calling for a ban and Mr Smith drafted a Written Declaration, signed by other MEPs calling for action by the Commission.

The detail of the new regime is reproduced at the note below, but will in essence see imports to the EU being restricted from 1 February to only 300 eligible farms out of Brazil's 10,000.

Mr Smith said:

"This is a total vindication of the campaign to ban Brazilian Beef.

"These steps are to be welcomed, but they have been a long time coming and I well remember the reaction from some quarters when we first raised this issue. The Scottish Beef Cattle Association and the Irish farming bodies are to be commended for the dogged way they have kept this issue in the public eye.

Source: Farming UK