IFA president Joe Healy has called on the EU Trade Commissioner to remove beef from Mercosur negotiations.

The trade deal with the South American trading bloc has been ongoing for a number of years but as it edges closer to conclusion concerns are growing that it will provide a higher quota entry for South American beef.

Healy said that there was no way Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom could allow a trade policy that would allow the entry of cheap beef imports when the shadow of Brexit hung over Europe.

“Such a deal would be sabotage and a sell-out of the European Union beef and livestock sector,” he said.

He also raised concerns over the carbon footprint of beef from countries such as Brazil in comparison to Ireland.

“Brazil have a wilful disregard for environmental concerns, having said they do not accept the Paris Accord and increased beef exports are responsible for major deforestation in the Amazon”.