EXCLUSIVE: 'No ban is possible and the IFA know that' - Hogan

Damian McCarney

 

IFA's calls for an immediate ban on 'sub standard' beef imports have been dismissed by the European Agriculture Commissioner.
Commissioner Phil Hogan had been urged by the IFA's President Joe Healy to trigger ‘a red button mechanism', effectively prohibiting South American beef from entering the EU market.
“The Commission needs to push the red button now and stop substandard beef which is already coming in from South America,” said Mr Healy. “Last year, some 269,000t of beef came into the EU despite serious shortcomings in the standard of that beef.”

However Commissioner Hogan rejects the premise that sub standard beef enters the EU. He further stated that “a ban is not possible and the IFA know that”.

He outlined to The Anglo-Celt that “no product arrives in EU without identity and documentary checks”. He also stressed that no South American beef entered the Irish market place in 2018.
The IFA had gave a damning account of Brazilian beef, including: “The facts are that in Brazil cattle are not tagged and there is no tracability. Hormones, beta agonists and other growth promoters are widely available. These products are all illegal and banned in the EU. Brazil has endemic Foot and Mouth disease, which is a constant risk.
“Despite assurances by the Commission over the recent trade deal, the one thing we know is that Mercosur is currently failing to meet EU standards.”
Commissioner Hogan rejected the claims, pointing to the stringent safeguards in place to ensure compliance with EU quality control.
“Due to the controls and checks that are in place presently, no sub standard beef arrives in EU. No product arrives in EU unless it meets the strict sanitary standards we have in place. No beef arrived directly to Ireland from South America in 2018.
“The EU manages the quota and decides the standards and approves the slaughterhouses for import. It is time for farm leaders to tell the true facts about these issues and to stop spreading misinformation.” 

 

Crisis
Mr Healy had made his comments for an import ban in the context of the crisis experienced in the beef sector, and the “catastrophic” potential threat of a no deal Brexit. He outlined that at just €3.60/kg, this week's beef prices are down 10% from last year's “already appalling” prices.
“With cattle prices on the floor and sterling reaching new lows of 90 pence to the euro, urgent action is needed to deal with the very severe crisis in the EU beef sector,” said Mr Healy.
The IFA president also called for Commissioner Hogan to make the €1bn for direct aid and market supports “available immediately”. 
“Commissioner Hogan has committed that the EU will make up to €1bn available in the event of the recently-announced Mercosur trade deal having a negative impact,” said Mr Healy. “The Commission needs to bring this funding on stream now to provide further direct aid to cover Brexit losses and to activate EU market supports immediately to put a floor under EU markets. It is clear that genuine market support measures will need to be in place sooner rather than later.”
This call for immediate use of the Mercosur fund was also dismissed by the Commissioner: “The €1 billion is ringfenced for agriculture in the event of market disturbances regarding Mercosur. It is the first time ever that a fund is put in place for a free trade agreement. 
“A safeguard measure is also in place for this deal for the first time to stop imports from coming to EU if trade is distorted arising from any sudden surge of beef or poultry imports.”