Farm groups fear influx of Brazilian meat after EU ban

Organisations representing UK farmers and meat processors are demanding the suspension of imports of meat and animal products from Brazil in line with action the EU will instigate next month.

From 3 September, the EU will introduce new import requirements for so-called products of animal origin (POAO).

See also: Farm use of antibiotics hits record low in the UK

As Brazil has not demonstrated compliance, which includes a guarantee that imported products are not derived from animals treated with antimicrobials reserved for human medicine or antimicrobials used for growth promotion or yield enhancement, it will be excluded from the EU list of authorised countries.

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) wants the UK to take a similar approach as do a number of organisations in Scotland, including Quality Meat Scotland and the National Sheep Association Scotland.

They have sent a letter to Defra secretary Dame Angela Eagle and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds urging this.

The UFU says assurances must be given that the UK will not become a destination for products that can no longer access the EU market.

Deputy president Clement Lynch says the prospect of beef or poultry produced using growth-promoting hormones entering the supply chain in Northern Ireland and other UK countries is “extremely concerning”.

“These hormones are banned in the UK, and our farmers operate under strict rules designed to protect animal welfare, food safety and consumer confidence,” he said.

“It would be completely unacceptable for local farmers to be required to meet these high standards while being undercut by imported products produced to standards that would not be permitted here.”

And in their letter to Dame Angela, the Scottish organisations urged the UK government to take a “precautionary and standards-led approach”, mirroring the EU’s restriction unless Brazil can provide the necessary guarantees.

Defra is undertaking its own assessment of Brazil’s use of antimicrobial assurance arrangements, but imports from Brazil may continue while GB completes that process.

No timeframe has been provided for this.