Irish MEP Maria Walsh has requested the European Commission to conduct a thorough investigation into the illegal sale of antibiotics in Brazil and the implications for the EU-Mercosur trade agreement.
The call comes following revelations in the Irish Farmers Journal this week, which exposed widespread illegal access to antibiotics, hormones and in-feed growth promoters across multiple Brazilian states.
Walsh has written to the European Commissioner for Trade Maroš Šefcovic to highlight the findings of the investigation, which was carried out in conjunction with the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA).
I’m deeply concerned about the reported illegal sale of antibiotics, growth promoters and hormones
“I’m deeply concerned about the reported illegal sale of antibiotics, growth promoters and hormones. With these medicines readily available in Brazil, they could be making their way to Irish shores shortly if the EU-Mercosur trade agreement is passed,” she said.
She said she has also called on Commissioner Šefcovic to provide clarity on how the proposed Mercosur safeguards will be enforced, particularly with regard to banned substances and antimicrobial usage.
“Time and again I have called for a level playing field for our farmers. How can this be guaranteed when medicines which are banned in the EU are available over the counter in Mercosur countries?
Many of the farms visited in Brazil had cattle with no tags. \ Philip Doyle
“The investigation identified a list of issues - illegal sale of antibiotics, use of growth promoters, traceability issues, no animal database for recording medicine use and no database to record medicine purchases.
“The Commission must investigate these reports and present their findings in full to the European Parliament. This is an agricultural trade issue, but also it is an issue of trust and safety for consumers across the EU.”
Ciaran Mullooly
Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly spoke at Thursday morning’s meeting of the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) on the matter, where he condemned a move to prevent a plenary vote next week on referring the EU-Mercosur deal to the Court of Justice of the European Union for legal scrutiny.
How could we trust this country when this evidence is in front of us again today?
He said the Irish Farmers Journal investigation highlighted the “wanton abuse” of antibiotic sales in Brazil.
“How could we trust this country when this evidence is in front of us again today? It is a matter of importance that we focus on this and we should not be gagged when it comes to Mercosur. We are entitled to speak up for our farmers in this house and we will continue to do so,” he said.
Cynthia Ní Mhurchú
Commenting on the revelations, Ireland south MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú cautioned that Europe is on the cusp of agreeing a deal that could see second-rate unsafe beef enter the EU food chain.
She said the findings call into question the very basis on which the EU-Mercosur trade deal is being advanced.
“That such powerful antibiotics can be bought so casually in Brazil without any regulatory checks is not just a problem for animal health - it is a public health red flag and one that should make everyone in Europe stop and think,” she said.
“As we push forward with the Mercosur trade deal, European farmers and EU citizens simply cannot be expected to compete on a playing field where such practices go unchecked.”
Ní Mhurchú said she has written to the European Commission asking it to publicly explain what rigorous due diligence was carried out before advancing this trade deal.
Barry Cowen
Her Fianna Fáil party colleague and former minister for agriculture Barry Cowen said called on the European Commission to contact its Directorate General for Health and Food, based in Grange, Co Meath, to investigate the findings.
He said the body has a duty to ensure that health and safety standards are upheld in the EU. He said what was identified in the investigation appears to “be at variance with the audits, the checks, the responsibilities and the interrogations that they are obliged to carry out on behalf of all the citizens of the EU”.
Michael Fitzmaurice
Roscommon-Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice, Independent Ireland’s agriculture spokesperson, said if the deal proceeds, “the consequences for rural Ireland, for public health and for the integrity of our food system will be severe. We need to reject the Mercosur agreement and defend Irish farming before it is too late.”
He said the investigation paints “a stark picture of an industry operating far below EU standards on traceability, veterinary oversight, environmental protection and public health”.
“I have long warned about the problems with traceability and hormone use in Brazilian beef and now we have an antibiotic scandal laid bare for all to see,” Fitzmaurice said.
“Irish farmers adhere to the highest of standards to produce the best food in the world – and we are going to be flooded with low-quality, potentially unsafe beef that will decimate our industry.
"It’s not good enough. It is time for Irish politicians, at home and in Europe, to stand up and be counted and come together to say ‘no’ to Mercosur.”
Deputy Fitzmaurice said these findings are a direct challenge to claims that Brazil now meets “equivalent standards”.
“Nothing in this report suggests Brazil has turned any corner,” he said.
“People need to understand what is at stake,” Deputy Fitzmaurice said. “Irish farmers are being regulated to within an inch of their lives – yet Europe is prepared to turn a blind eye to practices in Brazil that would shut a farm down here overnight. It’s self-sabotage.”
Read more
Watch: Brazil's antibiotic trade exposed
Brazil bombshell: illegal antibiotic trade exposed
Irish MEP Maria Walsh has requested the European Commission to conduct a thorough investigation into the illegal sale of antibiotics in Brazil and the implications for the EU-Mercosur trade agreement.
The call comes following revelations in the Irish Farmers Journal this week, which exposed widespread illegal access to antibiotics, hormones and in-feed growth promoters across multiple Brazilian states.
Walsh has written to the European Commissioner for Trade Maroš Šefcovic to highlight the findings of the investigation, which was carried out in conjunction with the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA).
I’m deeply concerned about the reported illegal sale of antibiotics, growth promoters and hormones
“I’m deeply concerned about the reported illegal sale of antibiotics, growth promoters and hormones. With these medicines readily available in Brazil, they could be making their way to Irish shores shortly if the EU-Mercosur trade agreement is passed,” she said.
She said she has also called on Commissioner Šefcovic to provide clarity on how the proposed Mercosur safeguards will be enforced, particularly with regard to banned substances and antimicrobial usage.
“Time and again I have called for a level playing field for our farmers. How can this be guaranteed when medicines which are banned in the EU are available over the counter in Mercosur countries?
Many of the farms visited in Brazil had cattle with no tags. \ Philip Doyle
“The investigation identified a list of issues - illegal sale of antibiotics, use of growth promoters, traceability issues, no animal database for recording medicine use and no database to record medicine purchases.
“The Commission must investigate these reports and present their findings in full to the European Parliament. This is an agricultural trade issue, but also it is an issue of trust and safety for consumers across the EU.”
Ciaran Mullooly
Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly spoke at Thursday morning’s meeting of the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) on the matter, where he condemned a move to prevent a plenary vote next week on referring the EU-Mercosur deal to the Court of Justice of the European Union for legal scrutiny.
How could we trust this country when this evidence is in front of us again today?
He said the Irish Farmers Journal investigation highlighted the “wanton abuse” of antibiotic sales in Brazil.
“How could we trust this country when this evidence is in front of us again today? It is a matter of importance that we focus on this and we should not be gagged when it comes to Mercosur. We are entitled to speak up for our farmers in this house and we will continue to do so,” he said.
Cynthia Ní Mhurchú
Commenting on the revelations, Ireland south MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú cautioned that Europe is on the cusp of agreeing a deal that could see second-rate unsafe beef enter the EU food chain.
She said the findings call into question the very basis on which the EU-Mercosur trade deal is being advanced.
“That such powerful antibiotics can be bought so casually in Brazil without any regulatory checks is not just a problem for animal health - it is a public health red flag and one that should make everyone in Europe stop and think,” she said.
“As we push forward with the Mercosur trade deal, European farmers and EU citizens simply cannot be expected to compete on a playing field where such practices go unchecked.”
Ní Mhurchú said she has written to the European Commission asking it to publicly explain what rigorous due diligence was carried out before advancing this trade deal.
Barry Cowen
Her Fianna Fáil party colleague and former minister for agriculture Barry Cowen said called on the European Commission to contact its Directorate General for Health and Food, based in Grange, Co Meath, to investigate the findings.
He said the body has a duty to ensure that health and safety standards are upheld in the EU. He said what was identified in the investigation appears to “be at variance with the audits, the checks, the responsibilities and the interrogations that they are obliged to carry out on behalf of all the citizens of the EU”.
Michael Fitzmaurice
Roscommon-Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice, Independent Ireland’s agriculture spokesperson, said if the deal proceeds, “the consequences for rural Ireland, for public health and for the integrity of our food system will be severe. We need to reject the Mercosur agreement and defend Irish farming before it is too late.”
He said the investigation paints “a stark picture of an industry operating far below EU standards on traceability, veterinary oversight, environmental protection and public health”.
“I have long warned about the problems with traceability and hormone use in Brazilian beef and now we have an antibiotic scandal laid bare for all to see,” Fitzmaurice said.
“Irish farmers adhere to the highest of standards to produce the best food in the world – and we are going to be flooded with low-quality, potentially unsafe beef that will decimate our industry.
"It’s not good enough. It is time for Irish politicians, at home and in Europe, to stand up and be counted and come together to say ‘no’ to Mercosur.”
Deputy Fitzmaurice said these findings are a direct challenge to claims that Brazil now meets “equivalent standards”.
“Nothing in this report suggests Brazil has turned any corner,” he said.
“People need to understand what is at stake,” Deputy Fitzmaurice said. “Irish farmers are being regulated to within an inch of their lives – yet Europe is prepared to turn a blind eye to practices in Brazil that would shut a farm down here overnight. It’s self-sabotage.”
Read more
Watch: Brazil's antibiotic trade exposed
Brazil bombshell: illegal antibiotic trade exposed
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