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18/07/07
The National Beef Association has welcomed EU health commissioner,
Markos Kyprianou’s, end of year deadline to the Brazilian
authorities to correct deficiencies in the delivery of beef onto
the EU market – or face a possible import ban.
NBA chairman, Duff Burrell
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“Pressure put on the Commission by the NBA and other organisations
over the last twelve months is at last beginning to tell,” said
Association national chairman, Duff Burrell.
Both last year and this the NBA has queried the integrity of Brazil’s compliance
with export rules which demand that cattle moving into approved export (non-FMD)
zones were resident for at least 90 days and kept on only one farm for at least
forty days before slaughter.”
“We also questioned compliance with the three month residency rule covering
cattle moving into Brazil from Paraguay where FMD is endemic and the application
and the monitoring of residue tests on export carcases.”
“In addition to this we required confirmation that only cattle registered
under Brazil’s SISBOV identity scheme were killed for export and questioned
the welfare standards that were applied to animals during transport.”
“Commissioner Kyprianou promised to maintain pressure on the Brazilian
authorities to ensure compliance and told the Association that in the event of
any failures he would take the actions he considered necessary.”
“Recent FVO inspections have shown that reason to be concerned over the
integrity of Brazilan deliveries still exist and this, and recent pressure from
other farming organisations, has resulted in the Commission issuing its end of
year deadline.”
“The NBA insists that all beef entering the UK must be produced to the
same standards that are demanded of UK farmers, including farm assurance, and
is pleased that most of the major supermarkets are aware of shortfalls in this
area and are selling significantly less Brazilian beef through their stores.”
“Problems about the presentation of unlabelled Brazilian beef in the service
sector continue. It is now up to Brazil to satisfy EU inspectors, and the industry,
that is doing everything that is demanded of it to raise standards or else face
the consequences of further UK industry pressure on the European Commission to
impose an EU ban similar to those already put in place by the US, Japan, South
Korea and Russia.”
“In the meantime more should be done to raise farm assurance standards,
particularly transportation, in Brazil, to make sure they meet the levels required
of farmers in the UK,” Mr Burrell added.
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