Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

479. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the discussions he has had with his EU counterparts and the European Commission to ensure that beef is not included in a potential Mercosur deal with South American countries in view of the fact that the United States Department of Agriculture, USDA, has banned fresh Brazilian beef, which clearly would likewise fail the appropriate EU standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31194/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I and my officials have been very active in highlighting the potentially very damaging impact of a Mercosur deal on the European agriculture sector, and on the beef sector in particular.

At political level, I have raised the issue with my Member State colleagues and with Commissioners Hogan and Malmström, both within the Council of Agriculture Ministers and in written form.

These efforts have been reinforced at official level through similar contacts with Member States and the Commission, particularly through the Special Committee on Agriculture and the Trade Policy Committee.

At the recent Agri Fish Council of Ministers meeting in June, Ireland, along with a number of other Member States, has requested that negotiations should not proceed any further until the Agriculture Council is given the opportunity to assess the balance between offers and commitments.

I also continue to monitor the situation closely in co-operation with my Government colleagues, particularly the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, who leads the Government's approach in relation to trade matters.

While the Commission responded to the strong lobbying by Ireland and others by excluding a beef Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) from the offers exchanged with Mercosur on 11 May 2016, there is a need for continued vigilance in relation to the conduct of these trade negotiations. We are also insisting that the timing and content of any beef TRQ offer is handled appropriately, and in a manner that safeguards the interests of the Irish and European beef sector in particular.

This must also take into account the findings of the Commission’s recent cumulative impact assessment, which strongly reinforce Ireland’s position in relation to beef. They are also a very effective reminder of the need for great caution in our approach to the issue of beef TRQs.

Of course the recent issues with Brazilian beef exports have been worrying. However, I would point out that the Commission was quick to react as soon as the practices uncovered in Brazil came to light. Its actions in seeking immediate suspension of certification for the establishments responsible, together with the rejection of consignments en route to the EU from those establishments, were appropriate and effective. I also welcome the harmonised approach being taken to the more intensified checks that are now being carried out on product from Brazil at EU Border Inspection Posts, and in which Ireland is playing a full part.

It is vitally important that meat and meat products being exported from any country to the EU fully comply with EU standards, and that there are robust and reliable systems in place to ensure that this is the case. We cannot tolerate a situation in which EU requirements are flouted, given the potential risks for food safety and consumer health.

These events demonstrate that we must remain vigilant at all times. I believe that we must therefore continue to keep this situation under ongoing review, and be ready to take additional measures if the circumstances demand it.