The UK and Irish farming unions have jointly called upon the EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, Markos Kyprianou, to intervene and conduct further investigations into the importation of Brazilian beef into Europe.

Five major countries, including Australia, the USA and New Zealand have banned imports of Brazilian beef due to fears over animal health status and the shortcomings in the management of Foot and Mouth controls in Brazil.

In September 2005, the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) visited Brazil and found an absence of animal identification, at which the farming unions have expressed their concerns.

The UK and Ireland farming unions are urging the Commissioner to take action, following an additional report that deficiencies found in Brazil in 2003 have not yet been rectified.

Bob Howat, NFU Scotland Vice-President, said:

“It is evident to me that current systems of Foot and Mouth control in Brazil are inadequate and cannot offer us the guarantees required by EC legislation.

“It is time that the Commissioner conducted further investigation to ensure that meat entering Europe doesn’t pose a threat to animal health. If the science continues to prove that Brazilian beef poses no threat then we will accept that decision but it seems clear that more investigation is required.”

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