| 11/09/06
The National Beef Association has asked the European Commission
to explain why its animal health department, DG Sanco, is prepared
to be more lenient towards beef from Brazil compared with deliveries
from other importing countries.
And has also requested detailed and specific assurances
that DG Sanco is already in the process of strengthening its approach
towards cattle traceability, FMD control, pre-slaughter welfare
standards, and journey times to slaughter premises in Brazil.
“The Commission’s relaxed monitoring of steroid, other hormone residues,
and veterinary medicine controls relating to Brazilian beef is a very good example
of the favours allowed to Brazil which are driving the NBA’s continued
complaints,” explained the Association’s chief executive, Robert
Forster.
“The anti-residue and veterinary medicine check ups quite rightly demanded
of beef entering the EU from the United States are measurably more stringent
than those required of Brazil and we have asked for an explanation that covers
the Commission’s reason for accepting these lower standards.”
“It is clear that while the US has to prove the beef it delivers is hormone
implant free, and backs this with a declaration on paperwork which is regularly
screened by EU monitors, that beef from Brazil is not subjected to the same procedures
and the screening that does take place falls well short of being as comprehensive
as the volumes of beef imported from Brazil, where banned steroids are clearly
still in use in some locations, demand.”
The NBA has also asked the Commission if it is satisfied there is no feeding
of banned SRM in the increasing number of Brazilian feedlots that have been built
closer to coastal abattoirs.
And that the journey times of slaughter animals transported out of the Brazilian
hinterland for export meet EU standards and are being monitored for abuse.
“On top of this we would like proof that anti-FMD control zones installed
following demands from the European Commission are correctly monitored and no
animals are leaving these zones to be slaughtered in export approved abattoirs
in non-FMD zones,” said Mr Forster.
“We need to know whether Brazil’s border controls, particularly with
Paraguay, are stock proof and that the Commission is certain that no Paraguayan
cattle are able to enter Brazil and be offered as Brazilian animals to export
buyers.”
“Details of the Brazilian response to the request, following the FVO mission
in 2002, that all export cattle would be ear tagged for at least 90 days before
slaughter are required as well and we want to know if the promise to extend tagging
requirements to cover birth to death by 2006, as is required of other importing
countries like the US, has been honoured too.”
 Beef Snapshot Puts Farms On Target
Steady cattle marketing will help to maintain prices
Limousin
Cattle to 4,500gns at Carlisle |
