The Mercosur deal for 99,000t carcase weight equivalent (cwe) of beef from South America should be limited to all the beef from 99,000t of carcases, not just steak meat, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has said.
“The text of the Mercosur agreement talks about carcase weight equivalent,” he told the Dáil in a questions and answers session on Tuesday evening.
“We have an opportunity to influence the legal text … to make sure that the carcase weight equivalent is a carcase, not all steak cuts,” he said, in reply to questioning from Fianna Fáil TD Charlie McConalogue.
He added that the only segmentation in the agreement is the 55:45 split between fresh and frozen cuts.
“I believe that a carcase is all of the carcase,” he said, adding that the opportunity now was to ensure the detailed legal expression of the agreement was used to limit the type of meat coming into Europe under the deal.
I believe that a carcase is all of the carcase
“I consider that the carcase, not the equivalent weight of carcase in prime cuts,” he said.
Reduced impact
If Minister Creed’s aspiration were achieved, it would drastically reduce the amount of high-value cuts coming into the European market.
It would require the South Americans to send all the beef from the carcase, including the lower-value roast, stew and mince cuts.
If the 99,000t were to consist of all steak cuts, it would require 3.6m South American cattle to produce that amount.
However, if the 99,000t cwe was made up from all the cuts on a beef carcase, it would equate to 400,000 cattle and be less damaging to the EU beef market.
Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley described the higher-value imports of beef into Europe as being like “sending ice to the north Pole where they don’t need it”.
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The Mercosur deal for 99,000t carcase weight equivalent (cwe) of beef from South America should be limited to all the beef from 99,000t of carcases, not just steak meat, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has said.
“The text of the Mercosur agreement talks about carcase weight equivalent,” he told the Dáil in a questions and answers session on Tuesday evening.
“We have an opportunity to influence the legal text … to make sure that the carcase weight equivalent is a carcase, not all steak cuts,” he said, in reply to questioning from Fianna Fáil TD Charlie McConalogue.
He added that the only segmentation in the agreement is the 55:45 split between fresh and frozen cuts.
“I believe that a carcase is all of the carcase,” he said, adding that the opportunity now was to ensure the detailed legal expression of the agreement was used to limit the type of meat coming into Europe under the deal.
I believe that a carcase is all of the carcase
“I consider that the carcase, not the equivalent weight of carcase in prime cuts,” he said.
Reduced impact
If Minister Creed’s aspiration were achieved, it would drastically reduce the amount of high-value cuts coming into the European market.
It would require the South Americans to send all the beef from the carcase, including the lower-value roast, stew and mince cuts.
If the 99,000t were to consist of all steak cuts, it would require 3.6m South American cattle to produce that amount.
However, if the 99,000t cwe was made up from all the cuts on a beef carcase, it would equate to 400,000 cattle and be less damaging to the EU beef market.
Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley described the higher-value imports of beef into Europe as being like “sending ice to the north Pole where they don’t need it”.
Read more
Taoiseach nominates Hogan for second term in Brussels
Exclusive interview: Hogan defends Mercosur deal
Creed vows to ‘frustrate’ Mercosur deal at every opportunity
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