Taoiseach warned of impact of Mercosur

A local TD has warned the Taoiseach of “untold damage” to Irish economy and agri-sector if inferior produce is permitted into EU through Mercosur.

Deputy Brendan Smith referenced the detailed report from a recent fact-finding mission to Brazil by the IFA and Irish Farmers Journal, saying it was a “cause for real concern for the European Union in relation to the Mercosur trade deal”.

Speaking n the Dáil, Brendan Smith said: “The Government must ensure that the best interests of the Irish agrifood sector are fully protected in these trade negotiations. As the Taoiseach knows, this State has for many decades invested very heavily, along with the farming community, in building up a world-class agrifood industry.

“Our industry operates to very high standards from primary production with high welfare and biosecurity standards, exceptional traceability and sustainable processing systems. Europe must not be subject to imports of products, particularly beef and poultry from systems that have much lower standards of production and monitoring. The proposed safeguarding regulation must be strengthened or there is the potential to do untold damage, to not just the agrifood sector but, to our overall national economy and employment.”

Taoiseach Micheál Martin noted the current position where the EU imports around 200,000 tonnes of beef from Mercosur countries annually, and detailed how the new proposal would see Mercosur countries granted a beef quota of 99,000 tonnes.

The Taoiseach noted the “very stringent” EU SPS standards to protect human, animal and plant life.

“These standards are among the highest in the world and are non-negotiable. I cannot give a longer answer but the EU, in the context of the latest agreement, has committed to increasing the number of audits and checks in third countries and to strengthening the SPS controls undergone. The reports identified by the Deputy have raised concerns.”