Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his attention has been drawn to the report by the Food and Veterinary Office recording ongoing failures by Brazil to meet EU standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37462/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the report the Deputy is referring to. The Commission's Food and Veterinary Office recently published its final report of a follow-up mission carried out between 25 February and 13 March 2008 to evaluate measures that the Brazilian Authorities introduced to address serious shortcomings on cattle traceability with regard to exports to the EU. As the Deputy will be aware the Commission proposed severe restrictions on Brazilian imports with effect from February of this year. However Minister Coughlan directed DAFF officials attending the Standing Committee to vote against the Commission's proposal and to call for an outright ban on beef imports from Brazil.

While a complete ban was not agreed the effect of the Commission's proposals limited exports of beef from Brazil to a relatively small number of herds. Based on this latest report I have arranged for my Department to write to the Commission to have this matter urgently discussed at the European Commission's Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health.