Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

Since 2000, six audits were carried out in Brazil, as well as a further audit at the end of 2005 regarding which European Commission officials are still in consultation with Brazilian authorities. My recollection is that four audits were carried out in Argentina.

With regard to the operation of EU controls on exports from Brazil, an FVO inspection to evaluate animal health and public health control systems and the traceability and certification procedures in place in that country has recently been carried out. Arising from this the Commission presented a proposal to the standing committee on the food chain and animal health yesterday to address some of the shortcomings in the Brazilian animal traceability system identified by the FVO. These additional certification requirements are designed to demonstrate that no contact has occurred between animals of different or lower health status, vaccinated animals and meat from areas where there is no vaccination programme is also identified and meat for export to the EU is derived only from deboned and matured meat from areas free of the foot and mouth virus. That standing committee, which continues to meet, is also considering other issues.

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