European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan has said that he is "digging his heels in" to ensure the trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur group of South American countries does not allow for the import of lower quality beef into the EU.
He said that if EU production standards are not protected there he will not agree to any deal.
Trade negotiations with the Mercosur group of countries, which includes Brazil and Argentina, have been going on since 2004 and are expected to be completed in the coming months.
In terms of trade it is worth eight times more than the recently-agreed CETA trade deal between the EU and Canada.
Commissioner Hogan said that it is his job to convince his colleagues in the commission to keep the volume of beef that is allowed in from South America though tariff-rate quotas as low as possible, and to ensure that Europe keeps a good eye on the type of meat cuts that are allowed into Europe under the terms of the deal.
Mr Hogan said that the pressure is now on, and there is a major challenge to ensure that the volume of beef imports into Europe is kept as low as possible.
Speaking in Co Offaly on the final day of the National Ploughing Championships, Mr Hogan said account also needs to be taken of the Brexit situation in addition to the issue of production standards.
Meet the Press #Ploughing17 @GeorgeLeeRTE gets the latest EU news from @PhilHoganEU - @rtenews pic.twitter.com/VSKMvP5Kze
— EC Rep Ireland (@eurireland) September 21, 2017
He pointed out that in recent times there have been significant beef scandals in Brazil and that the EU now has a requirement for 100% inspections of beef products from Brazil at the point of entry into the EU.
He said that he wants to ensure that whatever is agreed in the trade deal will insure that the standards applied are going to be European standards and not Brazilian standards.
Commisioner Hogan's statement that he is digging his heels in over the beef issue in the Mercosur negotiations is likely to be warmly welcomed by farm organisations.
Irish Farmers’ Association President Joe Healy expressed his strong opposition to any EU offer on beef in the trade negotiations.
He said the Mercosur countries already have very favourable access to the European market with up to 74% of all EU beef imports every year.
He said that EU beef consumption is down over 20% in the last decade and concessions to Mercosur will have a devastating impact on Irish farmers, the quality Irish suckler cow herd, and would lead to job losses in rural areas.
The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association President, John Comer, has called for an immediate suspension of all trade talks between the EU and Mercosur until a final deal around Brexit has been agreed and signed-off.
Mr Comer said that absolutely no one involved in Irish farming or agri-food was in favour of a trade deal involving increased volumes of South American beef.
Mr Hogan has also announced that he is increasing the proportion of the EU basic farm payment paid in advance to farmers to 70% this year from 50% previously.
Mr Hogan said that this cash-flow measure is in response to the difficulties that many farmers have been experiencing in recently times due poor weather and volatility and caused by Brexit and the depreciation of sterling.
The extra money included in the mid-October pre-payment will boost cash flow for farmers by as much as €250 million in the weeks ahead.
The weather contrast today at #ploughing17 versus yesterday #rtenews pic.twitter.com/kM8eO0X8Wr
— Joe Mag Raollaigh (@joemagraollaigh) September 21, 2017
Large crowds are once again expected to flock to Screggan in Co Offaly for day three of the ploughing championships.
Weather conditions are very good with blue skies and sunshine even though conditions underfoot remain wet and muddy following heavy rain yesterday.
An overnight clean-up operation succeeded in removing most of the water from the site and all areas are open.
A number of new fields have been opened for car parking, while many of those used yesterday are also back in use.
