Beef Plan urges farmers to sign petition against EU-Mercosur deal
The farm organisation said that the deal 'threatens the livelihoods of Irish and European beef farmers by allowing large-scale imports of lower-standard beef from South America'.
The trade agreement, if ratified, would allow Mercosur countries to export 99,000 tonnes of beef to the European Union under a preferential tariff.
In December, a political agreement was reached between the EU and the four founding members of Mercosur – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
However, this agreement still faces many hurdles and has been the subject of strong criticism from Ireland, France, Spain and Poland.
Beef Plan
Beef Plan believes that the current deal would result in unfair competition as Mercosur beef is not produced to the same standards that are required for farmers in the EU.
The farm organisation added that the deal would undercut local producers who 'adhere to stricter environmental, animal welfare, and food safety regulations'.
Analysis previously carried out by Meat Industry Ireland (MII) found that once the deal is fully phased in, Mercosur exporters will be better by €400 million per annum.
Beef Plan also claimed that the deal 'highlights the hypocrisy of the European environmental lobby', as 'increased beef imports could accelerate deforestation in the Amazon, undermining EU climate goals'.
The farm organisation's petition demands that MEPs oppose the ratification of the EU-Mercosur deal 'unless it includes strong, enforceable safeguards for farmers, consumers, and the environment'.
It added that European agriculture should be protected by ensuring any trade deal guarantees fair competition and equivalent production standards.
'If this deal goes through family farms will vanish, rural jobs will disappear, our communities will suffer,' Beef Plan claimed.
The petition, which is available to sign on the Beef Plan social media channels, will be forwarded to Irish MEPs.
The farm organisation told Agriland that it is also not ruling out forwarding the petition to MEPs in other EU member states.
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