Farmers for Fairness in Europe has written to the president of the European Commission and to the Food and Veterinary Office demanding answers about Brazilian beef inspections.

The association, an umbrella group representing organisations from Britain, Ireland and the EU, says it has been told that FVO inspectors are not sampling beef carcasses in Brazilian abattoirs for growth promoters.

Howard Quayle, FFE honorary patron and president of Manx NFU said: "The FVO and EU food safety commissioner Markos Kyprianou have a legal duty to protect consumers from unsafe food being imported into the EU.

FFE is demanding an immediate ban on Brazilian beef plus answers as to why the FVO are not testing for growth promoters - from the highest levels."

William Taylor FFE co-ordinator and Northern Ireland's Farmers for Action co-ordinator added: "When WTO and other agendas are put before food safety in the EU, questions have to be asked."